Return of the Sword God-Rank Civil Servant

Chapter 82

Kim Geon’s widened eyes trembled as if an earthquake had struck.

He couldn’t say anything for a while, but soon, with venomous eyes, he glared at Suho and spoke.

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“Excuse me?”

“Are you going to report my brother for being an unregistered player now? Go ahead. Damn it, do you think I wanted to end up like this? I’m paralyzed from the waist down from an accident, and my brother is in a vegetative state. We have no parents or money, so this was the only option left for us to survive. And you know what? Maybe this is for the best. Go ahead, report us, and take us both away. At least in detention, we’d get some kind of care!”

Kim Geon spat out his words with a voice filled with bitterness.

But it was all true.

Kim Geon was once a promising Hunter player who had reached level 50 and acquired his own unique traits.

However, he became paralyzed from the waist down after a serious injury during a gate raid, and, as if fate hadn’t punished him enough, his younger brother, who was an ordinary civilian, became comatose after a hit-and-run accident.

The brothers’ situation quickly worsened.

Having lost their parents early in a gate incident, the money they had saved was drained by hospital and living expenses.

Eventually, they had no choice but to move to the outskirts, struggling to get by, often skipping meals.

Then, just when everything seemed over, his ordinary brother awakened as a player.

To Kim Geon, who possessed possession-based abilities, it was his only hope.

Kim Geon’s possession trait only worked on players with lower overall stats than himself.

‘After that, he kept his brother’s awakening a secret and began taking part-time jobs using his brother’s body… not only that, but he managed his own body while unconscious and took care of his comatose brother’s body.’

Why hide the awakening?

There was no other choice.

His brother was still in a vegetative state and was receiving disability benefits, so reporting the awakening would cut off that support.

Moreover, only Kim Geon, with his possession trait, could recognize his brother’s awakening. He thought as long as he kept silent, no one would know.

He hadn’t done anything wrong.

He’d merely struggled to survive alongside his brother.

Suho spoke to Kim Geon, who was glaring at him with eyes full of resentment.

“Who said anything about that?”

“…What?”

“I told you, didn’t I? I’m here to help both of you. So, please calm down and listen to me. I don’t lie.”

At Suho’s calm tone, Kim Geon seemed taken aback.

Then he narrowed his eyes again, warily regarding Suho.

“Why should I trust you?”

“I’ll stake my name on it.”

“Your name? Are you kidding me? Who are you to think I’d trust you based on your name?”

“It’s understandable if you feel that way, but if I’m lying, report it to the media. It would hurt my reputation too. For the record, my name is Ahn Suho.”

“Ahn Suho?”

“Yes, haven’t you heard? Sword God Ahn Suho.”

“Sword God Ahn Suho?”

Though it felt a bit embarrassing, Suho invoked his title to prove his identity.

It was the surest way.

And soon after…

“The Sword God Ahn Suho?!”

Kim Geon’s eyes widened in surprise once more.

***

When it comes to establishing identity and earning trust, fame is the most effective currency.

Suho didn’t hide his fame and revealed everything to Kim Geon.

Consequently, Kim Geon accepted Suho’s sincerity and canceled the possession state.

“Ugh…”

As the possession state ended, Kim Geon’s brother’s body went limp, while Kim Geon, lying down, let out a groan.

Then, fully regaining consciousness, Kim Geon struggled to sit up.

Once he was seated, Kim Geon spoke.

“…Is that enough?”

“Yes, I’ve confirmed everything.”

At Suho’s words, Kim Geon sighed, then moved his arms to position himself in the wheelchair placed beside his bed.

Watching him, Suho commented.

“You’re quite adept at moving around.”

“It’s not my first day living like this. So, you say you want to help us; exactly how are you going to do that?”

Kim Geon was desperate.

Even if it was a jest, he had no choice but to cling to it as if it were his last straw.

Such was the brothers’ dire situation.

Suho nodded and spoke.

“There’s an old saying: if you want to help a homeless person, don’t give them money, but rather find them a job.”

“…Are you saying I’m a homeless person?”

“No, I’m saying I’ll find a job for you, Mr. Kim Geon.”

“A job?”

“Yes. Have you thought about resuming Hunter activities?”

“…?”

At Suho’s words, Kim Geon furrowed his brows and asked.

“Excuse me?”

“Yes?”

“Can’t you see my legs?”

“I see them.”

“Then?”

“But your Hunter license is still valid, isn’t it?”

“…Don’t tell me you’re suggesting I enter a gate using my brother’s body?”

“Not at all. I’m proposing that you yourself resume Hunter activities and enter gates.”

“What… Is this some kind of joke? If it were possible, I would have already done it. Besides, my level is over 50 now, so I can’t even enter low-level gates. How does this make any sense…?”

It was a valid point.

If he could at least enter low-level gates, he could use a ranged weapon to hunt rabbits, but the system restricted entry to each gate by level, making it impossible to engage in so-called ‘rabbit farming’ or ‘low-level grinding.’

However, Suho replied nonchalantly.

“Have you heard of partner items?”

“Partner items?”

“Yes, every player has items that are perfectly suited to them, known as partner items.”

“Oh… Yes, I’ve heard of that. But aren’t those almost like winning the lottery, with only a few players worldwide ever discovering one?”

Partner items.

A term referring to items that perfectly match a player’s ‘trait,’ often called ‘life items’ or ‘partner gear.’

People say you need luck as rare as winning the lottery to encounter one.

After all, no one knew which item would be the right fit.

‘But I know.’

An item that was the perfect match for players with possession-based traits.

‘And in a previous life, Kim Geon gained fame using that item.’

Though that fame was built on a tower of infamy… things would be different this time.

The reason he turned into a villain, as he’d vented to Suho earlier, was because of the flaws in the welfare system.

Suho spoke.

“Yes, it’s about as rare as winning the lottery. But I know an item that perfectly matches the possession trait. And through it, Mr. Kim Geon… no, both of you could start a new life.”

“….”

Kim Geon’s mouth fell open at Suho’s words.

Was he moved?

Maybe a little.

But more than that, he simply couldn’t understand.

After a moment of silence, Kim Geon asked.

“Why…?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why would you help now, after leaving us neglected for so long…? Don’t you want something in return?”

It was only natural to think that way.

To survive, Kim Geon had knocked on the doors of welfare centers, community centers, countless organizations.

But he had only received cold rejection.

Nobody had offered a helping hand to the former high-flying Hunter who had become a social outcast.

To his sharp question, Suho shook his head.

“It wasn’t neglect.”

“…What?”

“It’s only because a solution wasn’t found sooner; it was never neglect. Isn’t it proof enough that I’m here now?”

Suho said this with a warm smile, bowing his head slightly.

“I’m sorry I’m late. I should have helped you sooner. So, please allow me to assist you both now.”

Suho’s apology to the brothers.

It wasn’t just empty words.

It was genuine.

Suho felt he needed to apologize.

Though he wasn’t directly responsible for the flaws in the system, nor the government itself, he was still a public servant receiving a state salary.

Perhaps for that reason?

Kim Geon, sensing Suho’s sincerity, belatedly apologized for his own rudeness, and Suho graciously accepted it.

“It’s alright. I’d be frustrated and angry too if I were in your position.”

“…Thank you for understanding.”

“I’ll assist you with your brother’s awakening report. Naturally, I’ll also make sure the disability benefits don’t get cut off.”

“Are you… serious?”

“Yes, absolutely. I’ll personally handle the verification on-site, so you don’t even need to come. However, for future Hunter activities, it might be best if you start winding down your current work at the PC room. But…”

“Yes?”

“Have you been paid fully at the PC room?”

He asked just in case.

Such places often had exploitative owners.

But Kim Geon waved his hand, denying strongly.

“No, no! I’ve been treated well there. Thanks to the owner, we’ve managed to survive until now. Actually… since I plan to wrap things up there soon, would it be okay if I worked a little longer using my brother’s body, just until they find someone else?”

Hmm.

That’s surprising.

Usually, such places are notorious for unpaid wages.

Suho nodded.

“Understood. Suddenly quitting would be inconvenient for them, so let’s have you continue until they find a replacement. And I’ll introduce you to a guild to support your Hunter activities. You’ll soon hear from them. It’s Nexus, by the way.”

“Yes, Nexus?!”

“Yes, it’s the only guild I’m close with.”

“Uh, even so… Nexus… I don’t think I’m qualified for that…”

“Don’t worry about it. Once you start using the partner item I’ll soon secure, you’ll be more than capable of fitting in at Nexus.”

“What kind of partner item would you be giving me…?”

“I’ll show you once it’s ready. So, take a good rest for a few days, and I’ll see you soon.”

After politely bidding farewell, Suho left Kim Geon’s home.

‘This takes care of the non-awakening report and field evaluation.’

He could handle the paperwork himself, so it was effectively cleared.

Suho headed back to Seoul.

But the destination on the navigation wasn’t the Korean Hunter Association’s address—it was the Nexus headquarters.

‘No one but me knows that Kim Geon will become a rising star.’

Of course, even without the partner item, Nexus would look out for Kim Geon to stay in Suho’s favor.

But Suho thought that wouldn’t be meaningful.

‘True rebirth is only achieved through one’s own strength.’

As Suho made his way to the Nexus headquarters, he called Kim Lee-gang, the guild’s administrator.