Su-ho had always worked quietly — under the na of a guild, under the na of the Association.
Of course, even if he acted quietly, he still beca a national star that everyone adored. But that influence was limited to Korea alone.
If not for the Purification-Unification Operation, even the UN would never have known about him.
But Yasuda Hiro was different.
Yasuda Hiro.
At present, he possessed more power and influence than Japan’s Pri Minister, than the royal family — than any star in Japan’s history.
It made sense. He had not only raised the Sumiyoshi Guild, once Japan’s number three guild, to an overwhelming number one, but had also surpassed “Kenji of the Storm,” the reckless man everyone called a mad dog, and had cleared Gates that most Hunters dreaded to even approach.
That was why his nickna now was “Hero.”
If Su-ho was called the Sword Saint in Korea, then Hiro was called the Hero in Japan.
And since Japan loved promoting its own national pride, they tirelessly showcased Hiro — who had even visited Takamagahara, the so-called realm of the Japanese gods — turning him into a symbol of Japan’s strength, a world-renowned hero displayed like a national treasure.
So Hiro’s reputation reached far beyond Japan’s borders.
And now, that sa Hiro had suddenly appeared in a studio of a Korean television network — to join an organization founded by the man known as Korea’s hero, the Sword Saint.
Holy crap.
No way. Is this for real?
Believe it or not, it’s real.
Wow... the Japanese Hero suddenly appears here...
How many big nas are showing up in this broadcast today?
The Sword Saint prepared all of this by himself?
No, seriously, how is that even possible? Even with connections, how in one day...?
Q: Is the Sword Saint actually a god?
A: Yes, the Sword Saint is a god.
Sword n...!
The chat window exploded.
Of course it did.
Just having the Director of the UN Player Secretariat appear was already insane — but now, after the head of the famously rigid Hunter Association had voiced support for Su-ho, even Japan’s Hero himself had shown up for him.
And the reactions weren’t limited to Korea.
What?!
Why is Hiro-san here?!
Hey, what’s going on?! Why is the Hero here?!
Japan’s Hero joining an organization founded by a Korean? And as the first mber?!
What the hell is happening?! Explain!!
Japan was just as heated.
And for good reason — they hadn’t known either.
Of course not.
Before the broadcast began, Su-ho had suddenly recruited Hiro through Shadow Movent.
Naturally, Hiro accepted right away.
“Of course I’ll do it, Master.”
“...I appreciate it, but are you sure about this? Even if you’re my disciple, you have a position now. If you’d rather not draw attention back ho, you don’t have to.”
“Please don’t say that! How could a disciple ever betray his master’s will? Besides, it’s thanks to you that I’ve beco who I am today — why would I care about appearances?”
“Still...”
“Hey! This is my samurai spirit. Please, don’t say such things again.”
Su-ho had asked politely just in case, but Hiro’s response ca so boldly that it was Su-ho who was left startled.
And honestly, he was pleased.
Even if Hiro had refused, Su-ho had planned to pressure him into coming anyway.
“Hiro’s participation will be crucial for the launch of Save the World.”
There’s sothing called the “first comnt effect.”
The tone of an entire post can be determined by its first comnt.
In that sense, having Hiro — soone with an internationally good image — as the opening mber would bring trendous weight to Save the World’s debut.
The unexpected appearance left the anchor scrambling to regain composure.
“Welco, Hunter Yasuda. First of all, thank you for traveling all the way to Korea.”
“Haha, not at all. It’s not just anyone — when soone as close as my own brother, Su-ho, is founding an organization with such noble intentions, how could I not co?”
“Oh? You seem very close. Calling each other brothers — that must an you share quite a special bond?”
A special bond.
At that question, Hiro’s eyes glead.
“Special? It’s more than that! Honestly, the reason I’m even called a Hero today is entirely thanks to Su-ho. Every Gate I’ve cleared — the information behind them all ca from him.”
“What? From Hunter An Su-ho?”
The anchor was startled.
Even Su-ho widened his eyes.
‘What the hell is he saying?’
There hadn’t been much coordination beforehand.
They’d only agreed on a few things:
Use casual speech.
Act friendly.
Avoid ntioning “master” or “disciple.”
That was all.
So where did this co from?
Shocked, Su-ho quickly sent a voice transmission.
— Hey, what are you doing? You know what your image in Japan is! If you say that now...!
But Hiro just smiled, gave him a thumbs-up, and winked — as if to say, trust .
‘You’ve got to be kidding .’
Whatever.
Do what you want.
Su-ho closed his eyes, giving up, while Hiro began to charge ahead.
“Yes, at first I was puzzled too. He had all this valuable information — why give it to instead of using it himself? It’s not like Su-ho lacks strength. If he cleared the Gates himself, he could’ve earned both fa and fortune. So yes, I doubted him at first. A lot, actually. The Gates he told about were so dangerous I even thought maybe he was sending in as a scout. But I realized the truth when we crossed blades for the first ti.”
Hiro spoke with a wistful look, recalling their sparring.
“I am a swordsman. I carry the samurai spirit, always believing myself to be the last samurai of our era, devoting myself to swordsmanship. But Su-ho’s sword... to be honest, it’s far beyond mine. Not just his sword — his stats, his skills, every aspect of him is superior. I realized then that he didn’t send to those Gates as a scout.”
The anchor tilted his head.
“Then why did he tell you?”
“Su-ho said this: Of course he could clear all those Gates himself since he already knew everything, but since those Gates were in Japan, he wanted a Japanese to clear them — to have save my own country with my own hands. And later, he said, when the ti ca to save the world, he wanted to use that experience to help him.”
“Wow...”
“My goodness.”
“Oh my God...”
The anchor, Im Cheol, and Charlie all gasped in admiration almost at the sa ti — everyone except Jeong Cheol-min.
Jeong Cheol-min didn’t react because he knew Su-ho’s personality too well.
Yeah, right.
You probably fought yourself and made Hiro the figurehead.
He had that look on his face when Su-ho smiled and sent him a ssage.
— Director, your face is way too honest.
Jeong Cheol-min’s lips moved slightly.
‘I know.’
— You’re too much.
‘Kid, don’t I know you by now?’
— Haha, still, give a smile, please~?
Only then did Jeong Cheol-min force a smile.
anwhile, the chat was exploding again.
I’m losing my mind.
Sword Saint, how far are you going to move ?
Mom, when I grow up I want to be the Sword Saint. Mom, when I grow up I want to be the Sword Saint. Mom, when I grow up I want to be the Sword Saint...
So he was planning multiple /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ steps ahead all along?
That’s so romantic — “help save the world later.”
An Su-ho, join Big Deal already!
The dostic response was obvious — overwhelmingly positive.
Ahhh... so that’s the Hero’s backstory...!
SUGEEEE that’s incrediblewwww
Hiro-san... I always believed in you.
Hey, I told you, I believed!
What a story, I can’t stop crying, dammit~~~~~!
Japan’s heated audience flipped to full support in an instant.
Glancing at the live chat, Su-ho sighed in relief.
‘Good. At least the public mood’s with us.’
Still, that Hiro guy...
They say the tongue is a sword inside the mouth — who else but a samurai would wield it like that?
That’s the mark of a real leader.
And then it happened.
It’s all lies!!
I don’t believe it!
The Hero being below the Sword Saint?!
Prove it right now, TEEEEECHA!!!
Those Koreans have poisoned the Hero’s mind!!!
Hero-sama! Kill that damned man at once!!
A sudden rush of violent comnts — from Japanese viewers.
‘Anti-Korean right-wingers, huh.’
There are fanatics everywhere.
Especially in Japan — the far-right types had always existed, Cataclysm or not.
The best thing to do was ignore them.
There was even a saying: Don’t feed the idiots.
But Hiro was different.
“Hah?”
My master.
My love.
My universe.
My everything.
The man he revered was being insulted because of him.
A massive vein bulged on Hiro’s forehead, then vanished.
He spoke.
“It seems there are so who don’t believe .”
“Huh? Oh, you don’t need to mind the comnts—”
“No. Actually, before coming here, I thought long and hard about how I could be of help to Su-ho. And I ca up with one idea.”
“You... ca up with sothing?”
Even though this was a rushed broadcast, there was still a basic outline, a rough script.
It was still a show, after all.
And what Hiro was doing now? Definitely not in that script.
Startled, Su-ho sent another voice transmission.
— Hey, what are you doing? Just stay put.
But Hiro was resolute.
“No, trust . This is sothing we have to address eventually. And it’ll be the perfect push for anyone hesitating to join Save the World.”
— What?
Hiro turned toward the cara.
“Everyone, the person I am today exists entirely because of Su-ho. He didn’t just give information — as a fellow swordsman, he personally trained . So right here, live, before everyone watching, I’ll spar with Su-ho to show you all just how incredible he truly is.”
“Excuse ?”
“What?”
The anchor and Charlie both gasped.
Su-ho’s eyes went wide.
But the words were already out.
Holy crap.
This is happening now?!
Sword Saint vs. Hero, damn!
Hahaha I can’t believe I’m seeing this for free!
Hunters’ exhibition duels usually cost money, and this one’s free!
You seeing this, you guys charging thirty bucks for duel tickets?!
Hiro grinned and looked at Su-ho.
“It’s fine, right? You’re the head of Save the World. If you show your strength here, other Players won’t hesitate to join.”
“You...”
Su-ho’s face was one of disbelief — but inside, he couldn’t help thinking:
'Ah, this adorable bastard.'
A smile spread across Su-ho’s face, wide and genuine.
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