SFRW-Chapter 29

Ch. 29 Sword God From The Ruined World

Tap, tap, tap.

<Seo Do-jun: Aviator>  

“What is this?”  

Hyun Joo-yeon frowned slightly as she read the message.  

Straight out of the blue, ‘Aviator’?  

She pondered for a moment, unsure of what it meant, and finally sent a reply to Seo Seo Do-jun.  

<Hyun Joo-yeon: What does ‘Aviator’ mean?>  

The reply came instantly.  

<Seo Do-jun: I’m thinking of buying a car. You said you’d buy me one back then, right? If it’s too much, forget it.>  

<Hyun Joo-yeon: Oh… That’s what you meant? But what kind of car is an ‘Aviator’? I’ve never heard of it before. I can buy you almost anything, but limited editions might be hard to get.>  

Hyun Joo-yeon had bought a limited-edition car before. And she had given it to a man!  

If rumors like that spread, it would be nothing but trouble for her. So she wanted to get him a car that anyone could easily buy—one that wouldn’t raise any suspicions.  

<Seo Do-jun: A large SUV from Lincoln.>  

Seo Do-jun’s message was straight to the point. Hyundai Joo-yeon chuckled and immediately looked it up.  

It was an American vehicle, a premium brand under Ford called Lincoln.  

“…100 million won?”  

The price was just a little over 100 million won.  

“Did I come across as that stingy?”  

She had genuinely meant to buy him a car, putting thought into it.  

From well-known luxury brands to the ultra-expensive supercars favored by young Heroes—she had considered everything.  

Hyun Joo-yeon herself owned a Bugatti worth billions, along with five other cars, including a Lamborghini, Bentley, and Mercedes. To her, a Lincoln was practically cheap, and a 100-million-won gift felt… Lacking.  

Besides, Seo Do-jun was now an official S-rank Hero.  

He could easily earn 100 million won without breaking a sweat, so asking for a car at that price made her wonder if there was some hidden meaning behind it.  

That’s why she was willing to buy him an ultra-expensive supercar if he wanted.  

The information he had given her about the McCarthians had already brought her immense profits.  

Paying just 100 million won for that?  

To Hyun Joo-yeon, that would be worse than highway robbery.  

<Hyun Joo-yeon: If it’s not a limited edition, I can get you something more expensive.>  

<Seo Do-jun: This is enough.>  

His firmness, even through text, made her chuckle again.  

He was serious.  

Though she hadn’t known him long, Seo Do-jun wasn’t the type to mince words or hide his true intentions behind roundabout talk.  

He genuinely thought this was an appropriate gift.  

Pushing for something more expensive would be pointless, so she sent a quick acknowledgment.  

“What’s so funny?”  

“Huh?”  

“Why are you grinning like that?”  

Jung In-joo, who had been talking to her, suddenly noticed Hyun Joo-yeon smiling at her phone and tried to sneak a peek.  

“It’s nothing.”  

Hyun Joo-yeon quickly locked her phone and turned it off.  

“That just makes it more suspicious.”  

“Suspicious? Let’s just get back to what we were talking about. So, the Association decided to send Heroes to Brazil, right?”  

Jung In-joo narrowed her eyes, still suspicious, but eventually nodded.  

“You know how the monsters in Brazil have been especially violent lately. The Brazilian government and the Association finally admitted they can’t hold out any longer and are planning a large-scale closure of the rift zone.”  

“Closure? That’s a huge decision… Didn’t the U.S. ask for ownership of the rift zone?”  

“They did. But Brazil refused. They didn’t like the idea of another country turning their rift zone into a gate and letting Heroes come and go freely.”  

Hyun Joo-yeon nodded in understanding.  

Even though the whole world was suffering from rift zones and monster attacks, international power dynamics hadn’t disappeared.  

If anything, some countries had become even more calculating, fiercely protecting their own interests.  

The world leaders’ constant proclamations of ‘We are one!’ were nothing but blatant lies, full of contradictions.  

In reality, every country was scrambling for its own safety and profit.  

Especially the traditional superpowers, who were growing increasingly wary of the so-called ‘Hero powerhouses’ rising in influence.  

They feared losing their dominant positions.  

And South Korea was one of those rising Hero powerhouses, drawing subtle but firm opposition from many major nations.  

“So you and the Silk Flower Guild are going to Brazil?”  

“The Association’s compensation offer is decent, and Brazilian monsters have a high drop rate for magic stones. After discussing it with the guild, we decided this was a good chance to stock up. You’ll help, right?”  

Jung In-joo smiled sweetly, but Hyun Joo-yeon frowned.  

“Are you seriously bringing up the Chuncheon rift incident again? That’s low, even for you.”  

“Why are you overthinking it? It’s just that having you around makes things safer for me and the guild. By the way, is that guy from back then really the rumored new S-rank Hero?”  

South Korea’s eighth S-rank Hero.  

Though not officially confirmed, rumors about the eighth S-rank’s appearance were spreading like wildfire.  

Some media outlets were even pressuring the Association for answers, so Jung In-joo expected an official announcement soon.  

And she was 99% sure that Hero was Seo Do-jun.  

“I don’t know.”  

“Oh, come on. The rumors are already saying you two are ‘that’ close. Just tell me. What’s your relationship?”  

“W-what are you talking about? Why would I and Seo Do-jun…?”  

“Hmm… So his name is Seo Do-jun?”  

Jung In-joo giggled as Hyun Joo-yeon realized she’d been tricked.  

“Don’t you dare talk about Seo Do-jun to anyone. Got it?”  

“Then you’ll come to Brazil with me?”  

“…You’re really pushing it.”  

“Sister, just help me this once. It’s not like you have anything else to do here anyway. After England, taking over Brazil wouldn’t be bad, right?”  

Given Hyun Joo-yeon’s fame, Jung In-joo knew her presence in Brazil would only boost her reputation further.  

“Take over? What am I, a neighborhood thug?”  

“With that face, you’re more like a beauty thug!”  

Jung In-joo burst into laughter while Hyun Joo-yeon shook her head in exasperation.  

***  

“…So, what do I get in return for going public?”  

Seo Do-jun’s blunt question made Min Hong-gi frown slightly.  

He knew Seo Do-jun’s personality was like this, but he’d expected at least some variation depending on the situation.  

“You want compensation?”  

At Hero Association Chairman Na Tae-hwang’s question, Seo Do-jun replied immediately.  

“It’s my personal information being disclosed. I can’t just let it slide.”  

“Then tell us what you want.”  

Without hesitation, Seo Do-jun stated his demand.  

“Waive all commission fees on the magic stones I sell.”  

“Just the fees?”  

“And make the transactions anonymous.”  

“You’re asking me to break the law?”  

“Call it a special privilege, not illegality.”  

“…A special privilege.”  

Na Tae-hwang laughed in disbelief.  

“Hero Seo Do-jun, if the Association ignores the law, it’ll cause a huge scandal. We can’t be labeled as an extrajudicial organization.”  

There were already plenty of people wary of the Hero Association.  

If they started disregarding the law?  

Even under the guise of ‘privilege’, it would be a 100% problem.  

Especially when it came to taxes—politicians and corporations would pounce on the issue immediately.  

And it wouldn’t stop there.  

Other S-rank Heroes would demand the same treatment, A-rank Heroes would resent it, and eventually, even the public would turn against them.  

Money—especially taxes—was an extremely sensitive topic.  

“Your request is excessive.”  

Na Tae-hwang flatly refused.  

The problem was—  

“Then I refuse too.”  

As Seo Do-jun stood up to leave, Na Tae-hwang added slyly,  

“Even if we don’t disclose it, your identity will get out eventually.”  

“Probably. But once it does, I won’t owe the Association any explanations.”  

“…Are you threatening me?”  

A dangerous glint flashed in Na Tae-hwang’s eyes.  

Most people saw him only as the Association Chairman, but he was also South Korea’s first-ever S-rank Hero—the ‘Number One Hero’. 

A title he wore with pride.  

“If that’s how you took it, then I have nothing more to say.”  

Despite the overwhelming pressure from Na Tae-hwang, Seo Do-jun didn’t even blink. He simply grabbed the doorknob and left.  

“Hero Seo Do-jun!”  

Min Hong-gi called out in frustration.  

“I won’t be in contact with you anymore either.”  

Click.  

As the door closed, Min Hong-gi stood frozen, stunned by the unexpected turn of events.  

He never imagined the discussion would end like this. Now, he had no idea how to proceed.  

But accepting Seo Do-jun’s conditions wasn’t an option either.  

“…Hmm.”  

After a long silence, Na Tae-hwang let out a sigh. Though he didn’t show it, his back was drenched in cold sweat.  

“If that’s how you took it, then I have nothing more to say.”  

That final statement—the sheer terror he felt from Seo Do-jun was directed solely at him.  

It was a pressure unlike anything he’d ever experienced, not even from the strongest monsters or the world’s top Heroes.  

And it was delivered with terrifying precision.  

Min Hong-gi hadn’t even noticed.  

“Deputy Director Min Hong-gi.”  

“Yes.”  

“About Hero Seo Do-jun… No, never mind.”  

Na Tae-hwang had been about to ask how long it had been since Seo Do-jun awakened as a Hero, but he realized how pointless the question was.  

Whether it had been months or years no longer mattered.  

“I think I need to visit the Blue House.”  

“…What?”  

Min Hong-gi stared in confusion at the sudden mention of the presidential residence.  

***  

Seo Do-jun’s expression was far from pleased as he left the Hero Association.  

He had avoided registering as an official Hero precisely to sidestep these kinds of hassles.  

He didn’t regret his decision, but the sheer amount of trouble ahead was already irritating him.  

“I’ll have to deal with it either way.”  

But if Eun-young or his grandmother were harmed, he couldn’t guarantee how he’d react.  

Just as his thoughts were spiraling, his phone rang.  

The caller ID read: Choi Father & Son.  

“Hello—”  

[Hey! Get over here, now!] 

Choi Kang-soo, who had the manners of a wild boar, hung up immediately after barking his order.  

It was the last thing Seo Do-jun needed while already frustrated.  

“…That kid needs some serious discipline.”  

Gritting his teeth, Seo Do-jun hailed a taxi.  

The trip from Gangnam (where the Association was) to the Hero district in Gasan took over an hour.  

Seoul was already overcrowded, but after the rift incidents, people had flocked to safer areas, pushing the city’s population past 20 million.  

The subway was perpetually packed, and traffic was a nightmare.  

This wasn’t unique to Seoul—major cities worldwide faced the same chaos.  

“You’re here? That was fast.”  

Choi Kang-soo barely glanced up from his phone as Seo Do-jun entered.  

His rudeness was as consistent as ever.  

Seo Do-jun’s first action?  

Thwack!  

A sharp knock to Choi Kang-soo’s head.  

“Gaaah!”  

As Choi Kang-soo clutched his head in pain, Seo Do-jun smirked in satisfaction.