SFRW-Chapter 198

Ch. 198 Sword God From The Ruined World

Two days later.  

Marquis Biloi kept his promise.  

He obtained the Emperor’s permission to bring not only Seo Do-jun but also Shinjo, Hyun Joo-yeon, and Choi Kang-soo into the imperial palace.  

“There has never been a case like this in the empire’s history. To receive His Majesty’s permission…”  

Blah, blah, blah—  

In short, Marquis Biloi never stopped emphasizing how much effort he had put into getting them into the palace.  

“We will not forget your kindness, Marquis.”  

Had it not been for Marquis Biloi, entering the imperial palace would not have been this easy.  

That was sincere.  

Of course, Seo Do-jun’s sincerity carried a different meaning, but Marquis Biloi, unaware of this fact, nodded with evident satisfaction.  

“Now that that’s settled, be especially careful with your words and actions in front of His Majesty.”  

Marquis Biloi didn’t drag on about his achievements any further after Seo Do-jun’s response.  

No—the atmosphere didn’t allow for it.  

The palace was bustling with people coming and going in an unusually chaotic manner.  

“Hmm… Has something happened?”  

After Barhaut conquered the world and the current Emperor seized control of the empire’s power, even the smallest disturbances had vanished from the palace.  

Thus, this commotion felt unfamiliar even to Marquis Biloi.  

“Count Corneli!”  

Spotting Count Corneli, who was fairly close to him, Marquis Biloi quickly called out.  

“Marquis Biloi.”  

Count Corneli approached swiftly, exchanged greetings, and even gave a subtle nod of acknowledgement to Count Reminan standing behind the marquis.  

“The palace seems unsettled. Has some problem arisen?”  

Even as he asked, Marquis Biloi found the question somewhat absurd.  

What could possibly cause such a disturbance in the empire—let alone the imperial palace?  

Count Corneli, who would usually dismiss such concerns, instead frowned and hesitated before speaking.  

“Well…”  

He seemed reluctant in front of Seo Do-jun’s unfamiliar group, but after Marquis Biloi introduced them as skilled individuals to be presented to the emperor, he decided to speak honestly.  

“A rebel group has appeared on the outskirts of the capital.”  

“…A rebel group?”  

Marquis Biloi stared at Count Corneli with disbelief.  

A decade ago, perhaps—but now? When the Emperor and the empire’s power were at their peak?  

In truth, there were no remaining forces opposing the Emperor or the empire.  

The only possible rebels would have been the elves, former rulers of the forest—but they had long been fragmented.  

And even that wasn’t all.  

With the World Tree weakened, the elves had lost their dominance, no longer posing any threat to humanity.  

For them to rebel now?  

It would be no different from begging for death.  

“Are they elves who still haven’t accepted reality and fled the forest? Or humans hiding among them?”  

“Not elves. From the reports so far, only a few humans are involved.”  

“A few?”  

The palace was in chaos over just a few people?  

As Marquis Biloi frowned, Count Corneli sighed softly and whispered:  

“They’re not ordinary. The Capital Knights have been annihilated.”  

“What?!”  

The Capital Knights were an elite force guarding the empire’s capital.  

Ranked among the top three knight orders in the empire, their annihilation was hard to believe—but Count Corneli’s grave expression left no room for doubt.  

“And not just that…”  

When Count Corneli added that the 1st and 2nd Legions had also suffered near-devastating losses, Marquis Biloi stammered:  

“Y-You said it was just a few people?”  

“Each one of them is a master-level fighter.”  

“Th-That’s impossible!”  

“But there’s no need to worry. By His Majesty’s order, five of the Seven Masters have already left the palace to deal with them.”  

At Count Corneli’s reassurance, Seo Do-jun, who had been listening, smiled faintly.  

‘Kusak and the others have set the stage well.’  

He had expected to take down about four of the Seven Masters, but luring five out of the palace was even better.  

“I must also lead the Blue Moon Knights and head outside the palace…”  

“I’ve delayed you long enough. Go ahead.”  

As Marquis Biloi nodded, Count Corneli hurried off.  

“What in the world is happening…?”  

Marquis Biloi clicked his tongue, frustrated that such chaos had erupted on the very day he was to present Seo Do-jun to the emperor.  

“With five of the Seven Masters deployed, order will soon be restored. Do not worry too much.”  

At Count Reminan’s words, Marquis Biloi nodded, then turned to Seo Do-jun.  

“Though unexpected, this might work in your favor.”  

“How so?”  

Seo Do-jun feigned confusion.  

After glancing around, Marquis Biloi lowered his voice.  

“The Capital Knights were annihilated. That means a gap has opened in the forces supporting His Majesty.”  

In other words, Seo Do-jun’s group would now be even more valuable to the Emperor.  

Finally understanding, Seo Do-jun nodded with a faint smile.  

“I see.”  

“Hahaha! Quick on the uptake!”  

Marquis Biloi laughed heartily before quickening his pace.  

***

Emperor Aphrak Deyan  

During Barhaut’s conquest, he had been the fifth prince of a minor kingdom, thoroughly excluded from power.  

What followed was predictable.  

Driven by ambition, he stabbed his brothers in the back and brutally executed his parents—a betrayer of this world.  

“Hmm… Skilled individuals, you say?”  

His eyes were languid, as if bored by the absolute power he wielded.  

Yet flashes of cruelty, calculation, and brutality in his gaze warned that he was no ordinary man.  

“Indeed! They are talents who have hunted pure-blooded elf maidens deep in the forests!”  

Marquis Biloi eagerly hyped up Seo Do-jun’s group.  

“Your Majesty must recall Sir Palmer, under my command.”  

“Palmer? The arrogant knight who respected you, a marquis, more than me, the Emperor?”  

“Your Majesty, that was—”  

“Kukuku! A jest.”  

Did the Emperor know his joke had made the marquis break into a cold sweat? No—he must have known, given the forced smile on his face.  

Swallowing dryly at the Emperor’s unsettling humor, Marquis Biloi continued praising Seo Do-jun.  

“This man defeated Sir Palmer—who fought at full strength—using only a wooden sword. His skill is extraordinary.”  

“Oh?”  

For the first time, the Emperor showed interest in Seo Do-jun.  

Marquis Biloi’s name-dropping of Palmer had an immediate effect.  

“Your name is?”  

“Kassal.”  

The Emperor remarked on the ‘strong-sounding name’ before scrutinizing Seo Do-jun with snake-like eyes.  

“A fine physique. And I like that you don’t grovel like the others.”  

The Emperor chuckled, his gaze still fixed on Seo Do-jun.  

“So, what do you desire?”  

The Emperor cut to the chase.  

Having heard of Seo Do-jun’s efforts to meet him through Count Reminan and Marquis Biloi, he asked directly.  

A noble title? Power? Land? Or the Emperor’s trust?  

With a magnanimous expression, the Emperor seemed willing to grant anything.  

“What I desire is—”  

Before Seo Do-jun could finish, a knight rushed into the hall.  

“Y-Your Majesty!”  

At the urgent voice, the emperor’s eyes narrowed sharply.  

“What is it?”  

“The Red Sun Knights have been annihilated!”  

The Red Sun Knights were one of the emperor’s two most trusted knight orders.  

Hearing of their destruction, the emperor’s expression hardened—his pride wounded, his rage palpable.  

“…And the Masters?”  

His voice was icy.  

The knight’s throat trembled as he answered:  

“T-Two have fallen… The remaining three are holding off the rebels.”  

“Two… dead?”  

The emperor’s stony face cracked.  

This shock surpassed even the annihilation of the Red Sun Knights.  

“Impossible! How could two Masters fall? There must be some mistake—”  

CRACK!  

The Emperor shattered the armrest of his throne, silencing the marquis.  

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, the emperor spoke with eyes blazing with fury:  

“Everyone, leave! I will personally crush these rebels daring to challenge the empire’s authority!”  

As the Emperor rose—  

“What I desire is—”  

Seo Do-jun’s voice cut through.  

Marquis Biloi, horrified, flailed his arms to stop him.  

But Seo Do-jun only clicked his tongue at the marquis’ frantic expression.  

“Choi Kang-soo.”  

“Yes, Brother.”  

THUD!  

Choi Kang-soo’s fist struck like lightning, sending Marquis Biloi flying into a wall.  

The impact left a bloody smear as the marquis slumped, unconscious.  

“……!”  

“……!”  

The hall froze in shock.  

“Y-Y-You…!”  

Count Reminan stammered, trembling.  

Defying the emperor so brazenly could only end one way.  

Ignoring the count, Seo Do-jun met the Emperor’s gaze.  

The Emperor, though stunned, smirked as if realizing something.  

“You… are with them.”  

He had connected Seo Do-jun to the rebels outside the capital.  

“With that sharp mind, no wonder you betrayed everyone to sit there. Now, let’s talk properly—where’s the Orb of Withering?”  

The air in the hall grew scorching as two shadows emerged behind the Emperor—the two Masters who had remained in the palace.  

But Seo Do-jun was not alone.  

BANG! CRASH!  

Shinjo and Hyun Joo-yeon intercepted them, sending the two Masters flying back.  

One was a bald, red-eyed middle-aged man radiating madness, wielding twin hand-axes.  

The other was a wiry man with a sharp, rodent-like jaw, gripping a longsword.  

Their faces stiffened in disbelief—they hadn’t expected to be repelled so easily.  

With even the Emperor’s elite Masters failing to gain an advantage, the hall fell silent again.  

Only two people could speak now.  

First, the Emperor:  

“…Who are you?”  

Seo Do-jun answered calmly:  

“The Sword God from The Ruined World.”