SFRW-Chapter 81

Ch. 81 Sword God From The Ruined World  

Though America had entrusted Seo Do-jun with cleaning up Yukon Territory’s monsters through negotiations, they well understood such a task was impossible through individual strength alone.  

That’s why they prepared to cooperate with Seo Do-jun as much as possible.  

From S-rank Heroes of America and Canada to strike teams composed of A, B, and C-rank Heroes, and even operational support units through military forces.  

They hadn’t planned to dump this operation solely on Seo Do-jun.  

Conversely, this showed their strong determination to wipe out Yukon’s monsters and completely close every single rift zone causing the waves.  

“So they plan to completely exterminate all monsters occupying Yukon Territory and systematically close all rift zones. And I heard they’ve already finished negotiations for Kassal to actively participate in this operation.”  

“Kassal… That guy’s coming?”  

Gael’s face twisted at Coby’s reply.  

As memories of the U.S. Monster Wave surfaced like nightmares, Gael let out a deep sigh.  

“Damn it, why does it have to be him?”  

The S-rank Hero who couldn’t block a single attack from Cradiam and collapsed pathetically.  

For Gael, who’d been humiliated live on global broadcast, this was a dark history he wanted to erase.  

The problem was that Seo Do-jun, another S-rank Hero, had single-handedly blocked Cradiam’s attacks and played a decisive role in stopping the monster wave.  

This clearly demonstrated the difference between Heroes of the same rank, and internet posts mocking and belittling Gael’s abilities were still easy to find.  

What particularly crushed Gael’s self-esteem was the term ‘Gael-like behavior’ – meaning ‘someone who acts out without knowing their place’, a mocking term for arrogant people.  

Gael had to stay offline for quite some time because of this.  

For an S-rank Hero like Gael who’d always been respected everywhere, those days were truly hellish.  

And now he had to work with Seo Do-jun again for this operation.  

While he held no personal grudge against Seo Do-jun, since their shared memories weren’t positive, Gael seriously wished he could skip this mission if possible.  

“I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry about it too much.”  

“You wouldn’t understand unless you’ve experienced it yourself,” Gael replied while vigorously rubbing his face.  

“They’re just keyboard warriors anyway. People who wouldn’t dare speak properly in front of you. Don’t mind them.”  

Coby comforted and encouraged Gael.  

“Sigh… Anyway, right now I just want to skip this if I can.”  

As Gael sighed deeply, all Coby could do was pat his shoulder.  

“Gael! Coby! Did you hear Kassal wiped out tens of thousands of Kobolds by himself?”  

Coby looked at Irfan Nawir as if he’d said something absurd.  

Like them, Irfan was an S-rank Hero who’d naturalized in America from Indonesia, born to illegal immigrant parents who lived in constant fear of deportation until he awakened as a Hero.  

“The operation hasn’t even started yet! What are you talking about?”  

“You’re the one talking nonsense! Kassal already passed Alaska and entered Yukon Territory! And he single-handedly wiped out tens of thousands of Kobolds! It’s causing an uproar!”  

“Th-that’s impossible…”  

Even if Kobolds were the lowest-rank monsters, facing tens of thousands alone would be impossible even for an S-rank Hero.  

If that were possible, Canada’s northern regions would’ve been cleared of monsters long ago.  

Weren’t those areas left untouched precisely because of the overwhelming numbers despite being low-level monsters?  

“It’s true!” Irfan raised his voice in frustration.  

“That can’t be… Oh! Now I remember – didn’t he tame that monster called Casserian?”  

Casserian, a rift zone Boss Monster, is so powerful that it normally takes three S-rank Heroes to handle it.  

With such a monster by his side…  

Only then did Coby nod in understanding.  

Effectively, it was like four S-rank Heroes… no, considering Seo Do-jun’s abilities, at least five or six S-rank Heroes hunting the Kobold horde.  

Even against tens of thousands of Kobolds, those were favorable odds.  

“I really should skip this. If I join and mess up, I’ll just become a laughingstock again!”  

Gael tugged at his hair in despair even before the operation began.  

However, once operational personnel are assigned, changes aren’t easily made.  

Moreover, these naturalized Heroes who received enormous benefits upon immigrating to America had signed agreements to cooperate fully with the U.S. Hero Association, making it difficult to withdraw without good reason.  

Thus, Gael gloomily joined the temporary operational headquarters set up in Alaska.  

And then.  

“J-just in! Hero Kassal has completely wiped out thirty thousand Ice Imps!”  

“…That monster!”  

While others hadn’t even started the operation, Seo Do-jun had already single-handedly exterminated both the Kobold horde and thirty thousand Ice Imps, making Gael shudder.  

Heroes rushed to join the operation and began tracking Seo Do-jun’s location.  

But.  

“Wh-what’s all this?”  

Monster corpses littered everywhere – so many it was hard to estimate their numbers.  

“All these corpses are Ice Gnolls?”  

They were Ice Gnolls, classified as higher-rank monsters than Kobolds and Ice Imps.  

Somehow, Seo Do-jun had already wiped out the Ice Gnolls too.  

“Does this guy never get tired? How can he sweep through so many monsters in such a short time?”  

“I seriously question whether he’s even human.”  

“This is just… unbelievable.”  

The Heroes were at a loss for words at Seo Do-jun’s unprecedented actions.  

* * *  

-Kwaoooo…  

Casserian was depressed.  

It had been peacefully living as ruler of its territory until one day, a human invaded and shattered that peace.  

It would punish this bold human who dared enter its domain!  

As the Sky Emperor born without fear, Casserian had never forgiven any intruders – they received death as their pardon!  

Casserian roared mightily, releasing its fearsome aura to demonstrate its superiority.  

But then.  

“Stop making noise and kneel quietly.”  

This fragile human who should’ve died from a single feather, claw tip, or light peck of its beak calmly withstood its aura. No, more than withstood – when the human drew a sword from subspace and swung it, an entire mountain vanished without trace.  

Instinctively, Casserian realized: this was a being it couldn’t possibly oppose.  

Following survival instincts, Casserian prostrated itself completely, beak pressed to ground.  

Thus, the Sky Emperor submitted.  

“Let’s go outside.”  

Its new master casually climbed onto its back, wanting to leave the territory.  

Was this allowed?  

Though an oppressive discomfort weighed on its will, fear of its master proved stronger.  

Ultimately, Casserian forced itself to overcome the discomfort and emerged beyond its territory – beyond the rift zone into the human world.  

In this fragile world of weak creatures, Casserian fully realized its own magnificence.  

It would roar to proclaim its supremacy!  

-KWAAAAOOOOOO!  

Humans gathered near the rift scattered like cockroaches.  

Casserian finally felt its superiority acknowledged.  

But then.  

“I said stop being noisy. Let’s go that way.”  

At its master’s voice – standing firm as if rooted to its back – Casserian could only bow its head again.  

Following its master’s wishes, Casserian flew toward Seoul’s skies with powerful wingbeats.  

“From now on, this is your new nest.”  

Thus, Casserian became confined in human-made structures.  

Though it wanted to tear apart every human entering its territory, its master forbade it – no attacks unless someone showed hostile intent.  

Casserian had no choice but to endure.  

“Let’s go.”  

When its master returned and climbed aboard again,  

-KWAAAAAOOO!  

Casserian roared warnings at the weak humans who’d irritated it, but then—  

THUD!  

-Kwaooo…  

After receiving a heavy punch from its master, Casserian whimpered and flew southward.  

Upon reaching a small island:  

“Go wild.”  

With permission, Casserian vented its frustrations by slaughtering monsters.  

After some time, its master forced another long flight.  

For hours over endless ocean, past human cities, until encountering a massive horde of Kobold Kings.  

Another free slaughter session.  

After the carnage, extreme fatigue overwhelmed Casserian.  

Earth’s environment was terrible for it – lacking sufficient magic to recover energy.  

Every power expenditure required extended rest.  

It just wanted to sleep, even briefly.  

But its evil master gave no reprieve.  

The forced marches continued: slaughter monsters, fly, slaughter, fly.  

Casserian grew increasingly exhausted and depressed about its circumstances.  

“There they are.”  

With vision sharper than its master’s, Casserian strained its eyes at distant monster hordes.  

“Go wild again this time.”  

At its evil master’s generous words, Casserian wanted to scream:  

“I WANNA GO HOOOOOME!”  

Several days later…  

“…It looks different from the photos and videos.”  

“Right? Somehow… it looks smaller?”  

“I expected more presence from a rift Boss Monster…”  

“Is its fur always that scruffy?”  

“Even its eyes look sunken.”  

“Honestly… it looks like a sick chick?”  

Many humans gathered before Casserian, freely critiquing it.  

Casserian wanted to roar mightily, spread its wings wide, and lift its head proudly to warn them.  

-Kwaooo…  

“Look at that! Even its roar has no power!”  

“Why’s it staggering like that?”  

“Can that thing even fly properly?”  

“Doesn’t look like a Boss Monster at all…”  

“Three S-rank Heroes needed to capture that? I could probably do it alone.”  

Casserian wanted to cry.  

It hated these humans endlessly belittling it.  

Then its evil master reappeared.  

Could it be?  

Perhaps…?  

“Let’s go.”  

No perhaps about it!  

As the evil master tried mounting again, Casserian stepped back.  

It was truly exhausted!  

Please just let it sleep properly!  

Casserian expressed refusal with its whole body.  

“You’re acting up after just slaughtering some low-rank monsters?”  

Nonsense!  

Casserian shook its head vehemently.  

“We’re short on time. Hurry.”  

As the master leaped onto its back—  

THUD!  

“…!”  

“…!”  

Casserian collapsed on the spot.  

Watching humans stared in shock at Casserian, then at the evil master.  

“…Not getting up? Want to die?”  

At that terrifying voice, Casserian quietly closed its eyes and thought:  

Yes, death would be better than this.  

Kill me! Do it, you evil master!  

Casserian decided to just sleep.  

“…Tch.”  

The evil master – Seo Do-jun – let out a dry laugh.