SFRW-Chapter 25

Ch.25 Sword God From The Ruined World

South Korea Hero Association.  

Deputy Director Min Hong-gi of the Second Domestic Division.

Seo Do-jun placed the business card he was holding on the table and looked at Min Hong-gi sitting across from him.  

“First, there are three things I’d like to confirm with you, Mr. Seo Do-jun.”  

His tone was stiff and businesslike, bordering on authoritative at times, but his expression suggested otherwise, so Seo Do-jun simply nodded without resistance.  

“The first thing I’d like to confirm is whether or not you are a Hero.”  

If he wanted to, Seo Do-jun could easily lie.  

The only device on Earth that identifies Heroes, the Hero Meter, works by sending magic wavelengths through a person’s body using magic stones and then determining whether they are a Hero based on the reaction.  

It was a very simple principle but the most reliable method currently available.  

The problem was Seo Do-jun.  

Heroes who suddenly awakened one day on Earth had no choice but to use extremely primitive methods of magic manipulation.  

In contrast, Seo Do-jun had mastered the best magic manipulation techniques refined over hundreds of years since childhood, breathing them in as naturally as air, and had even reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship known as the Sword God.  

In short, he could easily deceive the Hero Meter by simply blocking its magic wavelengths at the source or creating a barrier around his entire body. Since he had already proven in the prosecution’s investigation that he wasn’t a Hero using that method, even the Hero Association would have no way to refute it if he chose to lie.  

Of course, it would be like covering one’s eyes and pretending not to see.  

But.  

“That’s right.”  

Seo Do-jun didn’t hide the fact that he wasn’t a Hero.  

Since Hyun Joo-yeon had likely already confirmed it to some extent, there was no need to lie, and above all—  

‘You’ve already been caught once as a perpetrator in the act, so don’t even think about operating under a fake identity anymore. Registering officially as a Hero would be more advantageous for you, Mr. Seo Do-jun. Why not take this opportunity to get an S-rank license and freely enter the rift zones you’ve been wanting to visit?’

Following Hyun Joo-yeon’s advice, Seo Do-jun decided to stop hiding himself, even if it meant dealing with some hassle.  

“Can you evade the Hero Meter?”  

In response to Min Hong-gi’s question, Seo Do-jun just sipped his coffee, as if telling him to figure it out himself.  

Seeing that Seo Do-jun wasn’t going to answer, Min Hong-gi reluctantly moved on to his second question.  

“The second thing I’d like to confirm is when and where you awakened as a Hero.”  

Seo Do-jun answered immediately.  

The day Kang Cheol-woo had hired someone to kill him through a Gate—to be precise, May 25th, the day he borrowed the body of a man named Seo Do-jun and began a new life.  

As the conversation continued, Min Hong-gi naturally learned the reason why Kang Cheol-woo had been left in ruins.  

“Hmm…”  

Min Hong-gi let out a troubled sigh and looked at Seo Do-jun with concern.  

“Do you know about Hero Kang Young-pyo?”  

“Vaguely.”  

“This is just my personal opinion, but you should be careful. Given Hero Kang Young-pyo’s personality, he won’t let this slide quietly.”  

For the first time, Seo Do-jun felt that Min Hong-gi was a decent person, seeing how he worried about him despite having just met.  

Since the other party was an S-rank Hero, one of the most powerful in South Korea, it took considerable courage to express such concern to Seo Do-jun like this.  

“If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to contact me. The Association will do its best to mediate.”  

Seo Do-jun nodded, saying he understood.  

“The last thing I’d like to confirm with you, Hero Seo Do-jun, is regarding the new rift in Mapo.”  

“What exactly do you want to know?”  

“We want to know everything about the new rift. This is the most critical issue for the Association. If possible, we’d like you to describe in detail everything you experienced.”  

Min Hong-gi even took out a recorder and waited for Seo Do-jun’s response.  

“The Association is taking this new rift incident very seriously. There’s growing concern that what happened with the monster wave in the U.K. could happen in South Korea at any time. So, we’d appreciate your full cooperation. Unlike other places, the Hero Association—no, Chairman Na Tae-hwang—truly prioritizes the safety of the people above all else.”  

Recalling what Hyun Joo-yeon had said, Seo Do-jun slowly began to speak.  

Starting from the moment the new rift zone formed, he explained in detail how he ended up entering it and how he managed to escape.  

Of course, he left out any mention of the World Tree, the fact that the rift zone resembled his own ruined world, or how he had absorbed the Eternal Embers.  

Though he omitted some details, everything he said was true, and Min Hong-gi smiled, seemingly satisfied.  

“Thank you for the detailed explanation.”  

Min Hong-gi even gave a slight bow, leaving Seo Do-jun with a positive impression of the Hero Association.  

No matter where you go in the world, the influence of Hero Associations is immense.  

Because of this, some corrupt Hero Associations in certain countries reeked of decay.  

Since they literally held the safety of the people in their hands, the organization naturally reflected the character of its leader.  

“If there’s anything you’d like to request or any expectations you have for the Association, feel free to contact me anytime.”  

“There is one thing I’d like to ask.”  

“Please go ahead.”  

“I’d like to receive an official Hero license.”  

“That’s something we can handle right away. However, determining your rank might involve a somewhat cumbersome process. I hope you understand.”  

“If a Hero recognized by the Association vouches for me, can the rank adjustment be done more easily?”  

“Of course. Is there a Hero who can vouch for you?”  

“There is. One.”  

“If you could tell me who, we can simplify the rank adjustment after verification.”  

Curious about who could vouch for Seo Do-jun’s abilities, Min Hong-gi suddenly thought of someone.  

“Could it be… Hero Hyun Joo-yeon?”  

“If an S-rank Hero vouches for me, I can at least receive a license of the same rank, right?”  

“…!”  

This was the moment Korea’s eighth S-rank Hero revealed his existence.  

***  

Seo Do-jun (S)  

2003/8/21  

82KR1S00000008  

4JQ87  

The Hero license was issued three days after meeting Min Hong-gi.  

The license contained only his name, rank, date of birth, Hero registration number, and a unique identification number.  

The Hero registration number was simpler than expected, a combination of the country code, letters, a digit classifying gender, Hero rank, and registration number.  

It was a very straightforward way to encapsulate all of a Hero’s information.  

On the other hand, the unique identification number was randomly generated, and if it didn’t match the Hero registration number, no benefits could be claimed.  

Because of this, Heroes who found carrying ID cards bothersome often tattooed their Hero registration and unique identification numbers on their bodies.  

Shoving the Hero license into his pocket, Seo Do-jun’s first destination was the Gasan Hero District.  

Having already memorized the location, Seo Do-jun walked straight through the forest of buildings and arrived at his destination.  

Custom Hero Weapon Crafting Workshop  

It was a Hero weapon shop that looked neither too large nor too small—just ordinary.  

Even its name was unremarkable, making it a place most Heroes wouldn’t give a second glance.  

When Seo Do-jun opened the door and entered, a young man engrossed in a mobile game didn’t even look up as he spoke.  

“Name of the person with the reservation, please.”  

Seo Do-jun immediately set down the backpack he was carrying at the young man’s feet.  

“I’d like to make a weapon out of this.”  

“If you don’t have a reservation, we can’t help you. Go out, turn right, and keep walking—there are plenty of weapon shops there. The craftsmen there are decent, so try your luck.”  

Since the person who referred him had insisted on making a reservation, Seo Do-jun had called ahead.  

But the response he got was an unfriendly refusal, saying they were too backlogged to take even reservation requests for the foreseeable future.  

And the person who had given that response was undoubtedly the young man now ignoring him in favor of his game.  

“I came here because I was told this was the best place.”  

“Every place is the same. And we’re swamped with work, so unless you have a reservation, we don’t have the capacity to take custom orders. So, like I said earlier, try somewhere else.”  

Still not even looking at him, the young man’s attitude prompted Seo Do-jun to kick the chair he was sitting on.  

Crash!  

The young man fell ungracefully, his face contorted in anger as he finally glared at Seo Do-jun.  

“Ugh! What the hell?!”  

“Are you the owner?”  

“The owner’s… Son!”  

“Judging by your attitude, this place won’t last long.”  

“Huh?”  

“I have nothing more to say to you. Call your father.”  

Seo Do-jun sat down on a chair in the office, making it clear he was done talking to the young man.  

With a look that said, ‘What kind of person does this?’ the young man glared at Seo Do-jun before disappearing through an iron door at the back of the office.  

Five minutes later, the iron door opened again, and the young man reappeared, followed by a man who looked to be in his mid-60s.  

“You were referred?”  

At the man’s direct question about who had referred him, Seo Do-jun answered simply.  

“Hyun Joo-yeon.”  

Neither the man nor the young man had expected to hear that name from Seo Do-jun’s mouth, and their eyes widened in shock.  

“Did Hyun Joo-yeon really refer you?”  

“If not, how would I have found this place?”  

The man nodded, seemingly convinced by Seo Do-jun’s retort.  

“If it’s Hyun Joo-yeon’s referral… Alright, let’s see what materials you’ve brought.”  

When Seo Do-jun pointed to his backpack, the man personally checked its contents.  

“This is…”  

The man picked up the item with a look of surprise.  

“What is it?”  

The young man, equally curious, stared at the rarely seen material.  

Ignoring his son’s curiosity, the man looked at Seo Do-jun.  

“Did you hunt this yourself?”  

“Of course.”  

“Hmm… It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Giant Black salmo’s fang.”  

Muttering to himself as if he’d encountered something truly rare, the young man’s eyes darted between Seo Do-jun and the fang in astonishment.  

“The Giant Black salmo that only lives in snake dens?”  

To be honest, the material itself wasn’t that extraordinary.  

Even at best, the Giant Black salmo’s fang was only an A-grade material.  

But because it was so hard to obtain, very few weapon craftsmen had ever worked with it.  

For an A-rank Hero, it was much easier to acquire higher-grade materials from gates than to hunt a Giant Black salmo alone on Bam Island. There was no need to go through such hardship.  

“What kind of weapon do you want made from this?”  

“A decent sword.”  

Seo Do-jun spoke as if he expected them to figure out the rest.  

“You want two, I assume?”  

“That’s up to you. Just make the blade as long as possible.”  

At Seo Do-jun’s words, the young man frowned even more than his father.  

“Even at best, this will barely make a medium-length sword. Consider the original size of the material.”  

“Are you admitting your lack of skill? And I’d like the magic absorption rate to be as high as possible.”  

A weapon’s ability to absorb its wielder’s magic is called its magic absorption rate.  

If a weapon’s magic absorption rate is too low, it can’t handle the wielder’s excessive magic and may shatter. Thus, Heroes who can directly channel magic into their weapons prioritize this above all else.  

However, unless the weapon is truly terrible, it’s rare for a Hero’s magic to break it on Earth.  

“magic absorption rate is already sufficient for a third-grade weapon. Why even mention it?”  

The young man grumbled, looking at Seo Do-jun with displeasure.  

“That’s the standard for the incompetent.”  

The young man scoffed mockingly at Seo Do-jun’s words.  

“Oh, so you’re different? Do you even know that no Hero has ever exceeded the magic absorption rate of a third-grade weapon? Are you saying you’re better than Sabri Alphonse or something?”  

Sabri Alphonse, France’s S-rank Hero, is renowned worldwide for his exceptional close-combat skills.  

His ability to channel magic into his weapons is considered among the strongest in the world.  

Even Sabri Alphonse had never exceeded the magic absorption rate of a third-grade weapon.  

At the young man’s mocking words, Seo Do-jun stood up from his chair and picked up a sword displayed on the side of the office.  

“Don’t touch that carelessly! Do you know how much it’s worth?”  

“What grade is this sword?”  

“Fifth-grade! Do you have any idea how expensive it is? Put it down now!”  

“Its magic absorption rate must be several times higher than a third-grade weapon.”  

“Is that supposed to mean something?”  

“Then what if I break it?”  

The young man’s face twisted as if he’d heard nonsense.  

“I just told you no Hero has ever exceeded the magic absorption rate of a third-grade weapon! What are you even saying? Stop talking nonsense and put it down!”  

“If you can do it, go ahead.”  

At the man’s quiet words, Seo Do-jun glanced at him as if to say he wouldn’t regret it, then began channeling magic into the sword.  

The ordinary-looking sword gradually turned red, and before a minute had passed—  

Crack—crackle crackle.  

With a clear sound of shattering, the sword fragmented and fell at Seo Do-jun’s feet.  

“…!”  

“…!”  

The eyes of both the man and the young man bulged in shock.  

Seo Do-jun calmly placed the now handle-only sword back in its original spot.  

“If you’re going to make trash like this, you might as well quit now.”  

Despite Seo Do-jun’s provocation, neither of them could say a word.