SFRW-Chapter 221

Ch. 221 Sword God From The Ruined World

600,000.  

Not a small number by any means.  

A force equivalent to the entire population of some minor nations – mobilizing such numbers signaled the approach of a cataclysmic war.  

“Damn it all…”  

Emperor Johanata Drew IV of the Caleo Empire had been losing sleep ever since confirming the Holy See’s troop numbers.  

“Because of one madman, the entire continent must be plunged into war!”  

Drew IV drowned his anger in strong liquor.  

Through frantic negotiations and threats, he’d managed to match the Holy See’s numbers by rallying southern kingdoms.  

But quantity alone couldn’t bridge the qualitative gap.  

How could 600,000 troops gathered from various kingdoms under imperial leadership compare to the Holy See’s unified 600,000?  

The imperial alliance forces were little more than a disorganized mob – command structures in disarray, many soldiers merely filling quotas.  

“If only those damn monsters weren’t a factor!”  

After the Monster War, most creatures had migrated south, forcing constant battles that drained southern resources.  

Even the Caleo Empire had to reserve forces to handle them – how much worse must it be for smaller kingdoms?  

Thus while numbers appeared equal, the reality was a severely lopsided matchup.  

“…Yet we can’t stop now!”  

The die was cast. Relations between the Empire and Holy See had deteriorated beyond reconciliation.  

“Madness! Sheer madness! Keh heh heh!”  

Drew IV laughed like a madman before downing another bitter drink.  

“Your Majesty…”  

A concerned knight approached as the emperor kept refilling his cup.  

Drew IV’s flushed face and bloodshot eyes betrayed his intoxication.  

“What do you think, Sir Chevill?”  

“About what, sire…?”  

“About this war. Do we stand a chance?”  

“Of course! We face only the corrupt pope and his ilk. The imperial army would never fall to such scum!”  

“Oh~ You truly believe that?”  

The knight stood firm despite Drew’s sarcasm: “Hearing you say so gives me strength! That senile fool Alfrey could never defeat us! A toast then!”  

Drew overfilled two glasses.  

“To the Empire’s victory!”  

Chevill had no choice but to drink.  

“To think my reign would see the Empire’s fate decided in war…”  

The drunken emperor kept giggling as he poured another round.  

“Trust Apostle Bekha,” Chevill said as Drew raised his glass again.  

“Bekha?”  

“Hasn’t he said Holy Sword Seraph and the so-called ‘Blade of Desion’ are marching to execute Pope Alfrey?”  

Drew nodded – his scouts confirmed they were cutting through paladins in northern territory.  

If they succeeded, this cursed war might never happen.  

Without its figurehead, the Holy See’s war machine would collapse.  

“…Can they truly take Alfrey’s head?” Drew’s voice trembled slightly.  

“It’s Holy Sword Seraph we’re talking about. They’ll succeed.”  

Chevill’s faith was absolute.  

Clunk.  

Drew set down his cup, eyes suddenly clear.  

“With Alfrey dead, the north becomes ownerless land.”  

While the Holy See would claim authority, Bekha’s faction lacked the strength to control the entire region.  

They’d need allies – willing or not.  

Seeing his emperor thinking beyond mere survival, Chevill smiled.  

“Exactly, Your Majesty!”  

“Ownerless land…”  

Drew swallowed hard as Chevill watched with satisfaction – finally seeing his emperor act the part.  

* * *  

“So someone’s pulling the pope’s strings?”  

Seo Do-jun’s question made Soto – who’d aged a decade in days – nod weakly.  

Branded a traitor, the former apostle had nothing left to lose.  

“Only the pope knows who exactly. But he clearly feared this person.”  

“Another dimensional traveler?”  

Soto had heard about Seo Do-jun’s origins.  

“Never considered it before… but now I’m not sure.”  

It made sense – someone appearing suddenly who even the pope obeyed couldn’t be ordinary.  

“Ever seen his face?”  

Soto vaguely recalled seeing someone after the Griton Empire war, but paid little attention.  

If even a top apostle like Soto knew nothing, this person was extraordinarily cautious.  

Seo Do-jun learned about the Holy See forces from Soto, but the information was superficial.  

The existence of Black Knight Grichuk proved their visible strength was just the tip.  

‘There must be Administrator’s Direct forces too.’  

Most intriguing was whoever transformed Grichuk into a Black Knight.  

“Did they send a welcoming party for the special guest? About time we got proper treatment!”  

Kusak’s joke made Seo Do-jun look ahead.  

Three bishops, one elderly man in superior vestments, nearly 300 paladins, and hundreds of Holy Army soldiers formed an unprecedented blockade.  

“Archbishop Caberche…”  

Seraph’s eyelids trembled.  

The elderly man smiled benevolently.  

“Long time no see, Dame Seraph.”  

His friendly tone suggested they’d parted yesterday.  

“…You’ve fallen too?”  

Seraph’s reddened eyes glared.  

“Fallen? I simply realized our mistake after staying at the Holy See. Bahat is the true god who loves humanity. It’s not too late for you to join us—”  

“Child molesting bastard. One look at your face tells everything.”  

“Disgusting! How many girls suffered from that filthy mouth?”  

“That rotten old fuck is mine! I’ll crush every bone slowly!”  

Choi Kang-soo, Kusak and Veronica’s vulgar outbursts reflected the group’s collective rage.  

Even stoic Gloria and Hyun Joo-yeon struggled not to vomit curses.  

Caberche simply tsked.  

“Such language—”  

“Enough pretenses,” Seraph cut in.  

“Apostle Soto and Sir Jerome confessed everything.”  

“Traitors say anything to survive. How sad you’ve become so credulous.”  

Tears streamed down Seraph’s face – this man had been like a father to her.  

Her sword hand shook uncontrollably.  

“We’ll handle this.”  

Seo Do-jun gently pried her hand off the hilt.  

“N-no, I should—”  

Seeing the normally composed Seraph stammer was novel for Seo Do-jun.  

But she needed to sit this one out.  

“Frustrating, isn’t it?”  

Seo Do-jun’s opening words confused Caberche.  

“On death’s doorstep when suddenly offered sinful pleasures beyond your wildest dreams. Must burn knowing your rotting body can’t fully enjoy them.”  

“W-what nonsense—”  

“Bet you curse your aging flesh in private. Those little girls weren’t enough, were they? And the child sacrifices – anything to regain youth, right? Morals went out the window long ago.”  

“SHUT YOUR MOUTH!”  

The composed archbishop’s face twisted demonically.  

Hyun Joo-yeon gasped at Seo Do-jun’s verbal evisceration.  

“Hahaha! That’s Kassal! No one eviscerates people like him!”  

“The way he destroys people is so hot!”  

Ignoring Kusak and Veronica, Seo Do-jun continued:  

“KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL!”  

Enraged, Caberche ordered the attack.  

300 paladins advanced as three bishops began chanting.  

“Let’s have some fun this time.”  

Kusak conjured massive fireballs.  

“I said the old fuck is MINE!”  

Veronica drew her sword, eyes locked on Caberche.  

“How about a wager?”  

Rakun stopped Grichuk with his proposal.  

“You and I compete for most kills.”  

Grichuk’s hollow voice responded:  

“Sounds… amusing.”  

Shinjo struck first, blade meeting an advancing paladin.  

Hyun Joo-yeon and Gloria joined enthusiastically.  

Choi Kang-soo erupted in radiant light – showcasing true holy power.  

This wasn’t a battle – it was slaughter.  

The Holy See’s proud paladins stood no chance against Seo Do-jun’s superhuman group.  

When Caberche and the bishops unleashed cursed ‘holy’ energy,  

“Pathetic.”  

Choi Kang-soo’s purer light vaporized their attacks.  

“KILL! KILL THEM ALL!”  

The mad archbishop threw hundreds more soldiers into the meat grinder.  

THUD-THUD-THUD!  

A dozen black-armored figures dropped from the sky – more Black Knights arriving.