Chapter 584
He opened the portal himself and returned to the Human Realm.
But the Human Realm was as peaceful as ever.
‘Well, I’m the only one who’s busy. What would the people here have to worry about?’
They said ignorance was bliss, and maybe it was better for them to stay ignorant.
If people learned about things like the system or indie games for no reason, it would only cause social chaos.
However.
“Aren’t you guys leaving?”
They had crossed through the portal with him, but the Olympus group was not going back.
And there were not just one or two of them, but dozens, so the number was quite burdensome.
Then Zeus said,
“You have not given us the order to disband.”
“Oh, since when did you all listen to me so well that you’re talking about a disband order? Just go back, all of you.”
“There are matters we must confirm again before that.”
“What kind of confirmation?”
“As Hera said earlier, would it not be good to create a direct Demi-Constellation-level armed organization under you, Guardian God?”
“And?”
“We will handle gathering them ourselves. In exchange, please give the organization a name.”
“An organization name?”
They really were doing all sorts of things.
It was nice that they were taking care of everything on their own, but being pushed along like this, as though by a bulldozer, was incredibly burdensome.
However, he figured it would not be polite to keep frowning either, so he decided to accept the situation itself.
‘Just like they said, later on, I really will end up in a situation where even one extra hand is desperately needed.’
But what should he name it?
He had not thought about this.
“I have the Black Army under me, so can I just call it the Demi-Constellation Army?”
“Understood. We will shorten it and call it the Demi-Constellation Corps.”
“That’s fine. So, you’re heading out right away?”
“Yes. We intend to go find the ones scattered across various places and give them a sincere persuasion.”
“...You mean with words, right?”
“We will choose various methods as needed.”
“Yeah, well, do whatever you want. But aren’t Demi-Constellations unable to die anyway?”
“That does not mean they cannot feel pain. You have seen it yourself, have you not?”
“That’s true. Fine. Go gather them yourselves.”
“Yes, understood.”
The moment Su-ho’s order fell, the Olympian gods were about to scatter, but Su-ho hurriedly called Zeus.
“Oh, wait!”
“What is it?”
“What was it again? There’s someone called Susanoo in Japan. He holds a pretty deep grudge against me, so I sincerely hope that through conversation with you all, his grudge against me will be resolved.”
“Ah, I understand exactly what you mean. I will carry it out immediately.”
Zeus was Zeus after all.
It seemed he had not won his position as king of Olympus through a card game.
After they left, Su-ho was finally alone.
‘Then now...’
It was his first return in a while.
What were the others doing?
Su-ho turned on his cell phone.
Missed calls had piled up.
They were all names he knew.
After some thought, Su-ho chose one and called.
- Director General!
The moment the call was answered, a warm voice burst out.
It was Kim Geon.
“Yeah. Have you been well?”
- What have you been doing all this time? Do you know how frustrated I was because I couldn’t reach you?
“Why? Did something happen?”
- No, nothing in particular happened. But I had to give interim reports and wanted to ask how you were doing, yet your phone stayed off, so I was a bit worried.
“That’s funny. Worrying about me when I’ve already risen to the level of humanity’s strongest.”
- Ah, of course, if we’re only talking about combat power, it is a bit strange for me to say I was worried... but you know what I mean.
“I know. I was just joking.”
A real laugh came out of him for the first time in a while.
One way or another, his real life had originally been at the Association.
“Anyway, I’m glad nothing happened.”
- Honestly, what could happen? You resolved all the Big Gates, Director General, and completely conquered Africa too, so the Saviors are comfortably proceeding with gate攻略.
“How’s Hyper Camp?”
- That’s also being built quickly and is nearly done. You’ll be very surprised when you come see it. The best materials and countless top-class personnel have been put in, so it’s being built at a truly astonishing speed.
“That sounds kind of funny. A place meant to confine the worst criminals, but made with the best materials. I suppose that means it’s that sturdy?”
- Of course. But looking at it now, I wonder if we’re building Hyper Camp for nothing.
“What do you mean?”
- Thanks to you, Director General, the global Player crime rate has dropped like crazy. The Saviors voluntarily working as vigilantes has played a part too.
“Really?”
He had not known that.
But besides that, Su-ho was naturally producing a purification effect across all sorts of fields.
- But may I ask where you were and what you were doing for the past few months?
“No.”
- Understood.
“I’m kidding. I was holed up somewhere clearing quests and training.”
- Training? How much stronger are you trying to get from there?
“We’re in an age of the Great Cataclysm, and we don’t know when it will end. Strength always has to be stockpiled. In that sense, once all the work you’re currently handling is wrapped up, you all will be going back into spec-up training too, so keep that in mind.”
- Understood.
“You’re not objecting?”
- There must be a reason you are ordering it. Even if you told me not to train but to jump into a pit of fire, I could jump in. On the day you saved me and my younger brother, Director General, I made up my mind. That I would live my whole life assisting you.
“Good grief, you don’t have to overdo it that much. You’re already doing enough. It’s true that thanks to you, my work has become much easier. Are you making good use of the Meta Suit?”
- Yes. I practice whenever I can and am also researching its applications.
“Good. I’m glad there’s nothing special going on. Then I have to call other people too, so I’ll hang up now.”
- Yes, take care. I sent the reports and summaries you needed to receive through chat, so please take your time looking through them when you have a chance. There’s nothing you need to approve separately. The Vice Chairman handled all of it.
“Yeah, thanks.”
Vice Chairman.
That probably meant Jeong Cheol-min.
Come to think of it, Jeong Cheol-min must have been suffering as much as Kim Geon.
He called him right away.
- Su-ho?!
As soon as he answered the phone, Jeong Cheol-min’s fussing voice came through.
Su-ho gave a faint laugh and answered.
“Yes, Vice Chairman.”
- Goodness, hearing you call me Vice Chairman means you must still be alive and well. But hearing you call me Vice Chairman after months makes it feel so awkward. Why don’t you just talk like you usually do?
“Should I?”
- Yeah. You went off the grid for months. Nothing happened, did it?
“I was just personally clearing quests and training.”
- ...There’s still room for you to get stronger?
“You’re saying exactly what Geon said. Strength always has to be stockpiled, doesn’t it? Anyway, I heard from Geon. You’ve been handling almost all the work in my place.”
- It’s not as if you didn’t know, so why act surprised now? My rank may be Vice Chairman, but I’m still handling all the miscellaneous work. Does this make sense?
“Haha, I love you. Nothing’s happened with the Association or the country, right?”
- Nothing. Thanks to you, the Awakened crime rate has dropped sharply, and the Saviors have voluntarily stepped forward to suppress gates, so it’s never been this peaceful since the Great Cataclysm. Everyone’s joking around calling it a reign of peace and a renaissance and making a whole fuss.
“Whew, everyone here is busy praising me too. It’s embarrassing.”
- What’s embarrassing about it? They’re all achievements you made. So, when are you coming back to the Association?
“Is there something I need to do?”
- No. If you’re not busy, I just wanted to see your face.
“Should I?”
- When are you coming?
“I’m going right now.”
Su-ho hung up immediately, summoned Cheolma, and moved to the Association.
Naturally, he did not forget to use Achromatic Solitude.
If he did not turn on Achromatic Solitude, the whole area would be paralyzed by everyone trying to catch a glimpse of Su-ho’s face.
‘Good thing I got Triple Nothingness early on.’
After arriving at the Association in an instant, Su-ho immediately visited the Vice Chairman’s office.
He went straight there because he could feel Jeong Cheol-min’s energy inside.
By now, his sense of energy had become incredibly broad, so even from very far away, energy at Jeong Cheol-min’s level felt as though it were right beside him.
When he opened the door abruptly without even knocking, Jeong Cheol-min greeted him plainly.
“You’re here?”
“You’re not surprised?”
“You’re the only guy who opens my door like that. And I was notified that you were coming, so why would I be surprised? But did you fly here? Ah, right, you do fly around.”
“I have nothing to say when you just say everything I was going to say. Have you eaten?”
“Look at the time. Dinner hour passed ages ago. But if you haven’t eaten, let’s go eat. My stomach’s expanded these days, so I can eat another bowl.”
“You’re an Awakened, so of course you can eat more. But if you’ve already eaten, let’s skip it. Let’s just have a cup of tea.”
“Should we? No, instead of this, should we go to the hideout for the first time in a while?”
“Should we?”
The hideout.
He meant the vending machine in the corner of the backyard.
The two of them chose Job’s tears tea out of habit.
“I’ll treat, since it’s been a while.”
“Sounds good.”
“Ah, the Job’s tears tea here really is delicious no matter when I drink it. Better than the tea in the Vice Chairman’s office or the Special Department Head’s office. The Job’s tears tea here is the best. What’s the secret?”
“Isn’t it all the taste of sentiment?”
“Right?”
Like that, the two spent some time on trivial conversation.
They did not talk about work, worries, the system, or gates.
Was that why?
Su-ho felt peaceful from the first real rest he had experienced in a long time.
‘This is nice.’
Thinking about it, he had truly run without rest.
At first, he thought everything would end once he finished taking revenge for his old comrades and handled the five disaster-class Big Gates, but after actually jumping into the front line, that had not been the case.
‘I still have a very long way to go.’
Even so, wasn’t it fine to take this much rest at this point?
While drinking his Job’s tears tea, Jeong Cheol-min looked at the clock and asked comfortably,
“So, what’s your next move now?”
“My next move? Hm...”
Su-ho considered giving a vague answer, then checked his class quest and trait quests.
Then, after giving a faint laugh, he closed them.
“Because of quest security, I can’t tell you everything, but I still have an extremely long road ahead. If I could, I’d even borrow a cat’s paw, but these are things I have to handle on my own.”
“Good grief. You’ve achieved this much, and you still have more to do?”
“I thought once I built up this much spec and cleared all the gates, that would be enough too... but the system isn’t that easygoing.”
“Are you okay?”
“Even if I’m not okay, I’m going to work to become okay. Spending time with you like this now makes me feel even more clearly how precious and valuable this peace is.”
“You’ve had it hard, haven’t you?”
“Well, compared to the old days, I think I’m fine. Just keep trusting me from now on too. I think that’ll be enough.”
“You little punk.”
Slurp.
He took another sip of Job’s tears tea.
“My lips are sealed. The conversation we had today is strictly confidential too. You know that, right?”
“I know. That’s why I’m only telling you, hyung.”
Su-ho also finished the rest of his Job’s tears tea and crumpled the cup.
“I should get going soon. There are a lot of places I need to contact.”
“Yeah. I’ll relay the message to the Association President.”
“Thank you, then.”
After saying goodbye, Su-ho summoned Cheolma and headed home.
After that, he slowly called the people he wanted to check in with and exchanged updates.
Fortunately, everyone was living well without any inconvenience.
Right after finishing the last call, he turned off his cell phone again.
“This really makes me look like someone going off to die.”
It felt like he was settling his affairs one last time before death.
But he had no intention of dying.
‘No matter what happens, I’m going to see that System Master or whatever’s face and proudly escape from his clutches.’
And if possible, it would be even better to kill him and liberate everyone.
Before long, after even taking his first shower in a while, Su-ho changed into clean clothes, finished all his remaining preparations, and only then opened his status window again.
“Now, then. Shall I start with the class quest first?”
The triangle attached beside his class.
When he touched it, light burst forth, and system notifications began rising.
[ Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant Part 1 Complete. ]