Chapter 53

Ch. 53 Sword God From The Ruined World  

“A banquet?”  

“We’ve closed all the rift zones affected by anomalies.”  

“Anomalies?”  

“You must not have heard. Actually…”  

“I see. So that bastard Seo Do-jun is coming to this banquet?”  

“Not just Seo Do-jun—all the Heroes who participated in this operation, and even journalists are attending. There’s already public criticism about Chairman Daniel Lopes pushing for the rift zone closures too aggressively, so this is also an opportunity to overturn that narrative.”  

“Is that so?”  

“In my opinion, there’s no better occasion for you to get your revenge, though it might still be difficult now?”  

“It’s enough. I’ll pay back every ounce of humiliation I suffered from him and make sure he understands it clearly.”  

Thud, thud, thud.  

The entrance of one person into the banquet hall drew everyone’s attention.  

“He’s already recovered?”  

“Even for an S-rank, can recovery really be that fast?”  

“I heard the Brazilian Association went all out to help him recover—seems like it paid off.”  

“The atmosphere feels strange…”  

“Shh! He’s heading toward Seo Do-jun!”  

“This… this smells like trouble. The scent of a scoop!”  

“It’s revenge! Revenge!”  

Brazilian Hero Association officials, Heroes from various countries, journalists, and even hotel staff all buzzed with whispers.  

“Judging by his expression, I’m worried some unnecessary commotion might break out.”  

Despite his words, Kang Young-pyo’s face was filled with anticipation.  

Hyun Joo-yeon was genuinely worried, just as Kang Young-pyo had implied, and Gloria also frowned at the rapidly deteriorating mood.  

“…Long time no see.”  

Takashi, standing before Seo Do-jun, was the first to speak.  

His eyes were chillingly cold, and his voice dripped with killing intent.  

To anyone watching, his hostility and murderous intent were unmistakable.  

“Seems like you’ve fully recovered.”  

Yet, Seo Do-jun’s expression remained completely devoid of emotion.  

Takashi’s face stiffened at Seo Do-jun’s indifferent response.  

“Thanks to you, I had quite the enlightening experience.”  

“Glad to hear it.”  

Hyun Joo-yeon bit her lower lip at Seo Do-jun’s reply.  

‘If another incident breaks out here…‘  

Her gaze naturally shifted toward the journalists.  

Their eyes gleamed like predators eyeing prey, and Hyun Joo-yeon could only hope no unnecessary conflict would arise.  

Fortunately, Chairman Daniel Lopes, sensing the strange atmosphere, quickly approached.  

“Hero Takashi, I’d heard you’ve made a full recovery. Still, I didn’t request your attendance here, worried it might be too soon. But seeing you in good health puts my mind at ease.”  

As Chairman Lopes intervened, Kang Young-pyo momentarily frowned.  

‘Trying to interfere, are you?!‘  

Kang Young-pyo, fearing Takashi might be dragged away if left alone, quickly cut in.  

“Even if his body has recovered, his heart must still be uneasy. It’d be best to keep the greetings brief and let him return. No need to aggravate barely healed wounds.”  

Kang Young-pyo spoke in English, not Japanese. At his words, Hyun Joo-yeon, Chairman Lopes, and even Gloria stiffened.  

It was obvious Kang Young-pyo was deliberately provoking Takashi.  

‘Does it hurt your pride? Don’t hesitate—start a fight already!‘  

Kang Young-pyo desperately wanted Takashi to throw a punch at Seo Do-jun.  

If the banquet was ruined like this, both Seo Do-jun and Takashi would become laughingstocks for the journalists, regardless of who won or lost.  

“Yeah, it’s uncomfortable. Almost unbearable to even look at him.”  

Takashi’s expression slowly twisted.  

Unlike Takashi, who looked ready to explode at any moment, Seo Do-jun remained expressionless.  

‘Let’s see how long you can keep that smug face after I smear it with dirt!‘  

Just as Kang Young-pyo was about to provoke Takashi again—  

“Takashi, whose land is Dokdo?”  

Dokdo? Why Dokdo?  

Kang Young-pyo made a baffled face at Seo Do-jun’s sudden question.  

‘What the hell is this bastard saying? What kind of nonsense is this? Is he trying to joke his way out of this? This lunatic!‘  

Not just Kang Young-pyo—Hyun Joo-yeon, Chairman Lopes, and Gloria were all equally stunned by Seo Do-jun’s completely out-of-place question.  

But what was even more shocking—  

“South Korean land, of course.”  

Takashi answered as if it were obvious.  

‘What the hell is wrong with this guy too? What are these two doing right now?’  

Kang Young-pyo couldn’t comprehend why Takashi, who should have been exploding in rage, was answering so easily.  

Meanwhile, Hyun Joo-yeon thought—  

‘This feels familiar…’  

“Whose land is Dokdo?”  

“Of course, it’s South Korean land!”  

“What about Tsushima?”  

“That’s also South Korean…”  

It was exactly like the day the Teikoku Guild members had submitted to Seo Do-jun.  

Only the target had changed.  

‘Takashi?’  

The problem was that the new target was Takashi—an ultra-nationalist who carried anti-South Korean sentiment in his very bones.  

Takashi, whose pride was unshakable even with a knife to his throat, was answering Seo Do-jun with unsettling obedience. It was hard to believe this was reality.  

“Don’t forget it.”  

Takashi nodded at Seo Do-jun’s words.  

“Takashi, what the hell are you doing right now?”  

Kang Young-pyo whispered urgently to Takashi.  

Instead of answering, Takashi pulled out his phone and began doing something.  

“Takashi? It’s me. Remember what we talked about before?”  

“What we talked about before?”  

“The favor I asked you. About eliminating someone in Brazil.”  

“Ah… I’ve been so busy lately I forgot for a moment. What was his name again?”  

“How busy are you to forget even his name? It’s Seo Do-jun.”  

“Now I remember. That new S-rank Hero from South Korea.”  

“Yeah, that bastard.”  

It was an audio recording of a call.  

The conversation played through the banquet hall’s speakers for everyone to hear.  

“Wh-what the…?”  

Kang Young-pyo, one of the parties in the recording, wore an indescribable expression.  

Shock, disbelief, betrayal, and rage all mixed together—his face alone proved the recording’s authenticity.  

Everyone was equally stunned.  

Heroes from various countries couldn’t believe their ears at Kang Young-pyo’s voice requesting the assassination of another S-rank Hero from his own country.  

The journalists, however, were different.  

‘This is a scoop!’  

‘Holy shit! This is huge!’  

Quick-thinking reporters immediately began recording the audio.  

The world would be shocked.  

Takashi had just dropped a bombshell.  

Even if Kang Young-pyo, who had made the request, was the primary culprit, Takashi’s reputation would also take a massive hit—yet he didn’t seem to care. Many wondered why.  

The recording was long and detailed.  

Hyun Joo-yeon’s name was mentioned several times.  

Takashi and Kang Young-pyo spoke about her in ways that were almost too shameful to hear. Listening to it, Hyun Joo-yeon trembled with humiliation.  

“Then, see you in Brazil.”  

With Kang Young-pyo’s final words, the recording ended.  

The banquet hall was engulfed in silence, everyone reeling from the shock.  

“Th-this is fake! This… this is edited!”  

Denial was the only thing Kang Young-pyo could do.  

Anyone could tell the recording was real, but Kang Young-pyo kept shouting that it was fabricated.  

“Ed… edited my ass.”  

Jung In-joo’s voice, filled with fury, cut through the air.  

At some point, the Silk Flower Guild members had surrounded Kang Young-pyo like a pack of wolves.  

“You fucking piece of shit, do you think everyone here is an idiot?”  

Jung In-joo couldn’t contain her rage at Kang Young-pyo’s attempted hit on Seo Do-jun and his degrading remarks about Hyun Joo-yeon.  

Even though Kang Young-pyo was a far stronger Hero than her, she wasn’t afraid.  

Not with Seo Do-jun right beside her—someone who could crush Kang Young-pyo with a finger. And even without him, every other Hero present was glaring at Kang Young-pyo like he was vermin.  

“Edited? I just revealed the truth. I even have notarized documents about the South Korean businesses you promised to hand over if I killed Seo Do-jun. Want me to release those too?”  

Takashi’s statement sealed Kang Young-pyo’s fate. No one would believe him now.  

“…You crazy bastard! What the hell do you gain from this?!”  

At Kang Young-pyo’s shout, everyone wondered the same thing.  

Why would Takashi do something so damaging to himself?  

Was he suddenly trying to uphold justice?  

Even a stray dog would laugh at that.  

“What do I gain? One thing.”  

“And what’s that?!”  

“A chance to change this false life of mine.”  

“…What?”  

Kang Young-pyo blinked, as if unable to comprehend Takashi’s words.  

But only for a moment.  

“Now I see—getting punched by Seo Do-jun scrambled your brains. There’s no other way you’d spout such nonsense! Change your false life? You think you’ll get that chance after everything you’ve done is exposed? Don’t make me laugh! You and I are both irredeemable trash!”  

“Yeah, maybe. But I don’t want to live as disgustingly as you anymore.”  

Takashi’s demeanor, as if he had let go of everything, only made Kang Young-pyo laugh hollowly.  

Was this really the same Takashi who had been grinding his teeth to kill Seo Do-jun just days ago?  

Had all of that been a lie?  

His hollow laughter slowly twisted into rage.  

He wanted to kill Seo Do-jun, who stood there so composed, but what would he gain from it?  

‘Hong Hee-ju is the only one benefiting from this.’  

Yes—this entire situation had started because of Hong Hee-ju.  

If she hadn’t hired Kang Cheol-woo for that gate assassination request—  

This was where it all began.  

The thought made his anger toward Hong Hee-ju surge, but there was something more urgent.  

‘Takashi! I’ll kill him and escape!’  

He was already finished.  

No S-rank Hero could be forgiven for putting out a hit on a fellow countryman.  

Everything he had built would crumble.  

Kang Young-pyo accepted it—and resolved to start anew.  

A life completely different, beginning with revenge.  

No more hypocrisy and lies—just a life for his own desires.  

But first, he had to escape.  

Steeling himself, Kang Young-pyo nodded with a resigned expression.  

“Damn it… Fine, you win.”  

Just as everyone let their guard down—  

“Like hell I’m letting you capture me! Die, you bastard!”  

Kang Young-pyo lunged at Takashi, a dagger in hand.  

His last trump card.  

A final measure he’d never use unless absolutely desperate.  

The blade slashed across Takashi’s throat.  

“…Ghk!”  

As Takashi collapsed, clutching his neck, Kang Young-pyo shattered a window and fled.  

“G-get him!”  

It all happened in an instant—no one could stop Kang Young-pyo.  

Well, almost no one.  

“Why… didn’t you stop him?”  

At Hyun Joo-yeon’s question, Seo Do-jun only smiled meaningfully.