Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant-Chapter 429

It wasn’t a mistake.

As if good and evil were confronting each other, that black-and-white split composition brought to mind a certain survival variety show from the past.

Maybe that was why—people spent the entire time watching the waiting screen muttering, “No way, no way...” as they waited for Part 2 to begin.

And the moment the broadcast started, viewers saw a vast plain as the first shot and once again saw the anchor from Part 1 serving as host.

The host greeted them.

“Hello, viewers. This is Han Jeong-sik of PBS Emergency Interview. As mentioned earlier, we finished preparations as fast as possible and have returned with Part 2.”

After a light bow, the host continued.

“Yes, for Part 2, as Hunter Yasuda said, we planned to show a stage to prove Hunter An Su-ho’s skill to people around the world through a friendly match with Hunter Yasuda. But before we prepared the broadcast, Hunter An Su-ho made us a special proposal. And that is...”

At that moment the camera zoomed out and began to show dozens of people.

They were all familiar faces—starting with Japan’s so-called hero, Yasuda Hiro, then Japan’s former #1, Kenji of Storm, and the former #2 and current Japan #3, the White Shrine Maiden... Beyond them, Japan’s top eleven notable players had all gathered.

On Korea’s side, excluding the current #1 Su-ho, starting with the former #1 and current #2 Ban Yu-il, Kim Kwan, Na Hyeon-il, Woo Seong-woo, and the current Top Eleven had gathered.

Simply put, aside from Su-ho, a combined twenty-one top-tier Korean and Japanese players were gathered in one place.

The host spoke.

“It was a proposal to face, all at once, Korea’s Top Eleven players and Japan’s Top Eleven players.”

What?

Crazy?

rly?

Wait, what did I just see?

So they’re doing 1 vs 21?

Are they out of their minds? lolololololol

Come on, there’s no one who stands before a dogpile— even a pro fighter gets shredded 1 vs 2 if the opponents are also pros, so what is this lololololol

But that’s the general public standard. Pro fighters aren’t at a ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) normal-human level, and hunters are outright beyond-human... I think it’s doable.

Is your head just for show? Even if the world’s #1 walked in, one-vs-many is absolutely impossible lolol

An explosive reaction.

It was only natural.

Anyone with even a basic understanding of fighting knew just how absurd this match that had just been arranged was.

Ah, ffs, you guys really have no sense of reality. This isn’t your dumb “X vs Y” matchups you always do on the internet. It’s an automatic loss.

But the Sword God has soloed dozens of Seal-grade Gates, right? Anyone else with that record?

No. But Gates have strategies; if you take your time, you can do things step by step. This is just a flat plain and a straight-up brawl. What happens when they attack from all sides?

Mkay~ I believe in our Sword God~

Sword-men.

Public opinion split.

Tightly opposed views.

But the ultimate emotion that bound both sides together was “curiosity.”

That alone was enough.

“The further people’s curiosity peaks, the more their awe of me will skyrocket.”

The host approached Hiro and spoke.

“Before we interview the others, let me ask Hunter Yasuda, who laid the foundation for this match. Hunter, first—before asking about the match, are you all right with this? Your original proposal wasn’t this setup, but a one-on-one, correct?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Rather, I’m happy. The thought that we can let the world know of Su-ho’s strength even more conclusively. And to be frank, even if Su-ho had a one-on-one against me, people would still have doubted, saying it was staged. You ask, who would say such a thing? When the fate of humanity is on the line? But I am certain. Conspiracy theories always arise, and people are slow to set aside doubt. So I feel not the least wounded in my pride and am, on the contrary, extremely pleased about this match that can show things decisively.”

Hiro spoke with his characteristic strong gaze and confident tone.

Perhaps because of that, the host, feeling his energy, replied in a slightly excited voice.

“As expected of a hero. Still, regardless of your intention, people are questioning whether this match is truly all right. In truth, anyone with even a bit of understanding about fights knows that a one-versus-many is nonsense.”

Hiro laughed at that.

“That’d be true for ordinary people. But Su-ho is not ordinary... no, he’s not even merely ordinary; he isn’t human. You’ll understand why my nickname is ‘hero’ and why Su-ho’s nickname includes ‘God’ once the match unfolds.”

“Wow... Your answer is quite impressive. Why you’re a hero, and why Hunter An is called a ‘god.’ Then we’ll interview one more player on the Japanese side... Ah, here you are. Japan’s former #1 hunter player and the current #2, Mr. Kenji of Storm?”

The second interview was Kenji of Storm.

He was known as one of Japan’s former top players and, at the same time, as an uncontrollable punk of punks.

So when they first said they were casting Kenji, voices of concern rose around them.

Except for Su-ho and Hiro.

Su-ho in particular was certain.

“Even so, if you speak to him sincerely, he’ll listen. His nickname is a punk, but his nature is probably kind.”

And now.

The host asked,

“Mr. Kenji, what do you think about this match?”

“The Sword God is a god.”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, no... that’s not... ahem.”

Coming to his senses belatedly, Kenji answered with a face more polite than ever.

“...Though my nickname is Kenji of Storm, I am not without some connection to Hunter An Su-ho. I once crossed swords with Hunter An Su-ho in the past, and at that time I realized it. Hunter An Su-ho is an existence on a different plane from a common fellow like me.”

???

What’s wrong with him?

Is he on meds?

Did you hear that? Kenji suddenly launched a surprise worship.

lol I heard it too— “The Sword God is a god,” lmao

As expected of “Storm,” instant stance switch, acting all solemn

But seriously, why is he suddenly like this? Wasn’t he the textbook example of a punk?

True?

Exactly so.

Come to think of it, at some point Kenji had grown docile.

By nature, when it came to “Kenji,” terms like punk, philanderer, and rake suited him more than the epithet “Storm.”

But after the hero called Japan’s new Hunter King, Yasuda Hiro, appeared, his news strangely dried up, and lately almost no word had been heard.

That grew worse after the second Great Upheaval.

In the midst of that, he suddenly showed up before the PBS match and launched a surprise worship of Su-ho.

Naturally, people who’d known him from before could only be puzzled.

But when did Kenji meet the Sword God?

The Sword God really lived a busy life;

At this point shouldn’t we call the Sword God the Storm?

Sword God of Storm is insanely cool

At this workload he’s not a storm, he’s Hermione.

By the way, how badly did he get his ass beat for a guy who lived on his own hype to call himself a common fellow? I thought I misheard.

Must’ve gotten wrecked. Come to think of it, the Sword God’s a healer class, so he could’ve literally beaten him to a pulp and then healed him.

lol He wasn’t Oh Eun-young, he was Black Eun-young~

As Kenji humbled himself excessively, the host laughed awkwardly and shifted the interview target.

This time it was the Korean side.

When the host tried to approach Hexagon’s Ban Yu-il, the former #1, Ban Yu-il averted his gaze.

The same with Kim Kwan, the former #2.

Inevitably, the mic went to Hexagon’s Na Hyeon-il, the former #3.

When the mic came to him, Na Hyeon-il accepted his fate and had no choice but to take it.

“Yes, I’m Na Hyeon-il of Hexagon.”

“Nice to meet you, Hunter Na Hyeon-il. Then, to get straight to it, what do you think of the Japanese hunters’ opinions?”

“Ah, I...”

A quick glance around from Na Hyeon-il.

But soon he, too, answered with dead eyes.

“I think it’s similar. Judging from Hunter An Su-ho’s steps and ability, someone like me is nothing but a mere common fellow.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s not exaggeration; it’s the truth. So when I first received this proposal, to be honest, I wasn’t very eager. Because in my view, I don’t think we could beat Hunter An Su-ho even if all of us rushed him.”

“To that extent?”

“Yes, at least that’s what I think.”

For a moment, Na Hyeon-il recalled the past.

When he applied for the GHA special hiring, and also when he went to the Association as a guild executive over the Gate monopoly issue.

“Overwhelming... Right, it was like a cat before a tiger.”

What he’d felt then was pressure so great he couldn’t breathe or speak.

By nature, Na Hyeon-il had been a man whose pride pierced the sky.

After awakening as a player and going through some growth, he didn’t just leap into the top ten—he consistently held a place among the top five in the country.

But after meeting the genius named Su-ho, he realized it had all been pointless arrogance.

So from then on, he lived humbly.

It was the natural course.

When an arrogant genius who has never despaired meets the massive wall of a “true genius,” their will tends to snap.

At Na Hyeon-il’s answer, the host asked,

“Then why did you state your intention to participate in this match?”

“That is... for two reasons.”

“Two?”

“Yes, first, I was curious about Hunter An Su-ho’s true power.”

It was true.

Back then, Su-ho had subdued him without lifting a finger, using a pressure skill.

So while his pride was shattered, at the same time, curiosity about a true genius arose.

No—beyond curiosity, a sense of respect arose.

In the midst of that, an opportunity arose to experience and witness Su-ho’s power directly—how could he refuse?

“Oh ho, then what’s the other reason?”

“The next is because I share the same thought as Hunter An Su-ho.”

“By ‘same thought,’ do you mean organizing a consortium for the peace of humanity—Save the World?”

“Yes. In the end, if we sit still, all that remains is to wait for death; better to resist to the end. So I wanted to be of help to Hunter An Su-ho, even if faintly.”

“Wow, that’s truly admirable. Then perhaps the others...?”

The host looked around at the others.

Then answers of a similar sort came from around them, and thanks to that, the interview could only be wrapped there.

“...Understood. Then from now on we will have the friendly match that can be called the main of Part 2: Hunter An Su-ho versus the joint Korea-Japan player party. Before starting the friendly match, Hunter An Su-ho will briefly explain the rules.”

Taking the mic, Su-ho looked at the camera and spoke.

“First... from here on, slightly brutal scenes may appear. So the elderly, pregnant women, and children should refrain from watching. And I have a request for the players who will grace this occasion.”

Looking at the Korea-Japan players, Su-ho spoke.

“As I told you in advance, I would like you to think of me as a boss monster and come in with the resolve to truly kill me. That is all.”

The mic returned to the host, and immediately, the chat window began to explode.

And at last, the unprecedented big match of one versus many began.