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It was just past 5 PM. In early spring, the sun was still slowly setting beyond the mountains.

– “Emergency Level 1 Warning! I repeat! Emergency Level 1 Warning! Residents are advised to evacuate immediately!”

A loud alarm blared through the peaceful residential neighborhood. The phrase “Level 1 Emergency Warning” was rarely heard, causing residents to evacuate in a panic, leaving their belongings behind.

And then.

“Awawawawawat?!”

Against the tide of fleeing people, Kwon Tae-ho and Lee Ha-yeon were swiftly darting between rooftops.

To clarify, Kwon Tae-ho was running with Lee Ha-yeon tucked under his arm.

“J-Justice Executor! Let me walk by myself! Please just let me go!”

“If I adjust my speed to yours, we’ll be too late!”

“Then you don’t have to carry me at all… Ugh!”

Being swung around like a ragdoll while jumping from rooftop to rooftop was making her nauseous. At that moment, Kwon Tae-ho landed on a nearby roof and set Lee Ha-yeon down.

“Uff! H-Huh! T-Thank you… thank you so much…”

“We should be near the scene by now…”

Of course, Kwon Tae-ho didn’t stop to show concern for Lee Ha-yeon. After checking the map, he narrowed his eyes and peered in one direction.

“That way.”

“U-Uhm, Kwon Tae-ho Executor? You suddenly pulled me out for field training, but what exactly am I supposed to do now…?”

“You won’t do anything. Your job today is to watch me do mine.”

“Just observe the situation. That’s what you said, right?”

As Kwon Tae-ho said this, he tried to tuck Lee Ha-yeon under his arm again.

“Could you at least carry me on your back? I get motion sick like this…”

“If I carry you, I won’t have both hands free. Stop complaining and come on.”

“O-Okay…”

There was no compromise to be had, so Lee Ha-yeon surrendered her body to Kwon Tae-ho without a peep of protest.

“I’ve heard the rumors, but this guy is even more reckless than I imagined…”

Is it normal for a grown woman’s body to be treated like it’s nothing?

However, common sense meant nothing to Kwon Tae-ho.

– Whoosh!!

With great speed, Kwon Tae-ho continued jumping from roof to roof and said to Lee Ha-yeon.

“Now, I’ll explain the current situation as we go. Keep your ears open and listen well.”

“It’s hard to listen like this…!”

“Not long ago, I received an emergency call from the area’s managing officer. The officer was attacked by a newly returned returnee. When the managing officer was speaking with another officer who detected a return signal, he lost control and assaulted him once.”

“Once…?”

A single slap declared a Level 1 Emergency? Is that even reasonable?

With a look that seemed to express disbelief, Lee Ha-yeon heard Kwon Tae-ho’s casual reply.

“They say that because of that one slap, Seo In-taek, a B-level ability user, has lost consciousness. Estimated combat ability is A-level or higher. If his claim of being a Celestial Horse is true, he might be even stronger.”

“Stronger than that…?”

A-level or higher implies S-level.

Even if she thought it was outrageous, Lee Ha-yeon knew all too well the weight that the term Celestial Horse carried in this world.

“Just look—he probably thought he was the best when he returned from the other world. He’s throwing a fit because he didn’t get his way. If he knew there were over ten returnees from the Celestial Horse in Korea, he’d probably faint from the shock.”

“Still, shouldn’t we call for backup? He’s a Celestial Horse…! That means he was one of the strongest people in his world…”

“The world is what it is.”

At Kwon Tae-ho’s words, Lee Ha-yeon raised a question mark over her head. Seeing that, Kwon Tae-ho replied quietly.

“You’ll understand what I mean as you continue in this job.”

With that, Kwon Tae-ho leaped high into the air again, carrying Lee Ha-yeon under his arm.

*

Meanwhile, at that moment.

– “Level 1 Emergency Situation! I repeat! Level 1 Emergency Situation! Residents are advised to evacuate immediately!”

“The outside is noisy,” Seong Jin-hong muttered, annoyed by the incessantly blaring speakers while glancing at Kim Ye-rim, who flinched in surprise.

“That broadcast outside… you contacted the superior, didn’t you? It sounds like they’ve cooked up some scheme behind the scenes.”

“N-No! No way! I really just conveyed the intentions of the returnee to my superior! That broadcast was probably just other people reporting the building collapse…?”

“…….”

A blatant lie.

As a master like Seong Jin-hong, he could almost read whether someone was lying just by their expression or hints.

However, he paid it no heed. Regardless of any schemes, people in this world will ultimately have to obey his orders.

“There must be a dedicated organization for returnees like me, meaning they certainly have some ways to restrain those returnees.”

So, as expected, troops should be coming to subdue him by now.

That was easy enough to anticipate. Yet he maintained his relaxed attitude, overflowing with confidence in his own power.

“After crossing into the martial arts world, I started as a mere soldier of the Celestial Horse Sect, but ultimately became the Celestial Horse itself. Even the top warriors of the martial arts world couldn’t match me. I am the peak and the true ruler. Even if the world has changed, there should be no one who can stand up to me!”

From his vocabulary, the word ‘defeat’ had long since been erased.

Seong Jin-hong waited calmly for his enemies to come, believing they could come if they wanted.

And then.

“Oh?”

As if his once confident expression had sparked curiosity, he lifted his head.

“You’ve come.”

“Y-Yeah, what?”

Leaving behind a dumbfounded Kim Ye-rim, Seong Jin-hong stepped outside with a grand demeanor. The street, now clear of residents, showed no signs of life.

Yet Seong Jin-hong could distinctly feel two presences approaching from afar.

One was nothing to be concerned about, but the other was a formidable foe.

“No hints of concealment. Judging by the pressure, they’re just crossing over the peak into the realm of the absolute.”

A master who could claim the title of ‘top’ was one who possessed talent, someone who could be considered a peak martial artist through sheer effort. However, only once one crossed the threshold would they be classified as an absolute master.

At that level, the course of history could very well revolve around them.

In fact, in the world that Seong Jin-hong had come from, there were fewer than seven total absolute masters, including elders of the martial arts school and leaders of hidden sects.

“Ridiculous.”

But to Seong Jin-hong, they were but a yelping puppy that didn’t know fear.

His level surpassed both peak and absolute; he had reached the Harmony Realm (造化境).

Having mastered the principles of energy and nature, he became a being nearly akin to a celestial being. No matter how many masters without that level came at him, they wouldn’t even reach his feet.

“A little sparring wouldn’t be too bad; I just hope you can last longer than that old bamboo of a martial arts leader.”

– Thunk.

Floating delicately like a feather, Seong Jin-hong quietly landed in the alley. Soon after, a black shadow dropped from a nearby building rooftop.

“You’re here.”

“Oh?”

Kwon Tae-ho, who had been waiting for him, seemed surprised.

“You noticed I was coming? Truly, is this the power of a Celestial Horse?”

“That’s right! I am the 17th leader of the Celestial Horse Sect! The Black Blood Demon, Seong Jin-hong! And you are… who are you? State your name!”

“I am Kwon Tae-ho, the Executor.”

“Executor…? Is that one of those bureaucrats from earlier who came looking for me?”

Seong Jin-hong asked, eyeing Kwon Tae-ho up and down.

His disheveled clothing and unkempt hair had his expectations waning.

One shouldn’t judge a person’s strength by their appearance, but Kwon Tae-ho’s state was enough to let Seong Jin-hong down.

“Well, something like that.”

At Kwon Tae-ho’s reply, a question popped into Seong Jin-hong’s mind.

The Earth he lived on wasn’t full of martial artists and energy techniques; they were merely products of fantasy.

But upon his return, both the earlier officer and this man right before him were claiming to be bureaucrats while having reached the peak level of strength.

Had there been changes in this world while he was away? Or had someone who crossed over to the martial arts world returned first, spreading martial arts?

“Whatever. It’s all good. In the end, it’s just a little more trash in my way. No one can stand against me.”

While thinking this, Seong Jin-hong’s gaze suddenly shifted to Kwon Tae-ho’s side.

“Wait, who is that woman you’ve got tucked under your arm like a sack?”

“Oh, right.”

At Seong Jin-hong’s words, Kwon Tae-ho glanced at his side. Lee Ha-yeon, who had been clinging there for a long time, looked pale, almost about to vomit.

“An executor aiming for a full-time position shouldn’t be this physically weak…”

“Ugh, I’m not a physical fighter; I’m more of a tactician…”

“You sure talk a good game.”

Having placed Lee Ha-yeon gently onto the rooftop, Kwon Tae-ho asked her.

“So, what do you think? This is a landmark first field surprise. Looking at that ungainly man in front of us, how does he appear in your eyes?”

“How do I…?”

“I’m asking for your honest impression.”

Lee Ha-yeon gazed thoughtfully at Seong Jin-hong.

“He looks strong. There’s no gap in his stance, and his flow of energy is quite considerable. But honestly, compared to how much I worried about facing a Celestial Horse… he doesn’t seem all that special…”

“You’re good at catching the energy that shows but can’t feel the energy hidden inside. That’s enough for now; developing your senses can happen in the field.”

“He’s hiding his energy? No way! He looks like he’s flaunting it right out there!”

“You’ve probably never seen a Celestial Horse in person.”

Kwon Tae-ho lightly tapped Lee Ha-yeon on the head as he spoke.

“From now on, open your eyes wide and watch closely. It will be a valuable experience.”

– Thunk.

After that, Kwon Tae-ho jumped off the rooftop, landing on the ground. Seong Jin-hong, who had been listening to their conversation, scowled at him, feeling displeased.

“What the hell are you trying to do?”

“Sorry about that. That kid here is a new intern at our office. I brought her along for field practice. Just needed to explain a few things.”

“Field practice? To do that in front of me, it’s ridiculous. It’s enough to just ignite my anger.”

– Grrrr!!!

In that instant, overwhelming energy erupted from Seong Jin-hong.

An intangible force swiftly transformed into a massive pressure, weighing down on the entire vicinity.

“Ugh…!”

Lee Ha-yeon, who was watching, hit the ground as she felt a wave of nausea from the pressure.

It was overwhelming.

Far beyond what had been sensed previously, an immense and deadly mass of energy surged forth.

“Now, how does it feel? Can you still afford to talk about being calm in the middle of this?”

Seong Jin-hong smiled leisurely as Lee Ha-yeon’s face paled quickly.

Lee Ha-yeon was a returnee. Though she wasn’t from the martial arts world, she had studied a lot about the martial arts realm while preparing for the Executor exam. Having returned, she attempted to learn martial arts to build basic strength as an Executor.

But even those minimal achievements were far from being able to withstand the energy released by a Celestial Horse.

Nausea and cold sweat coated her body, trembling like a quaking aspen, and her skin went pale as goosebumps erupted.

Even more so, the deadly aura from the Celestial Horse wasn’t directed at her. Yet, the overwhelming scent of death sent shivers down her spine.

“I’m sure I’m insignificant to him—yet he exudes this much pressure… what about the Executor facing him…?”

Indeed, it was best to call for support. No matter how capable Kwon Tae-ho was, facing a Celestial Horse alone was risky.

While thinking that, she turned her gaze towards Kwon Tae-ho.

“Hmm.”

However, contrary to Lee Ha-yeon’s thoughts, Kwon Tae-ho’s expression was perfectly calm.

He crossed his arms and slowly savored the pressure emanating from Seong Jin-hong.

“And now…”

“Third time.”

He said it nonchalantly.

“What?”

“This is the third time I’ve faced a returnee from the Celestial Horse. In this nation, there are quite a lot of people who used to be Celestial Horses like you. Probably around fifteen or sixteen. Among them, I’ve fought three, including you.”

Seong Jin-hong couldn’t comprehend this for a moment.

The title of Celestial Horse referred to the leader of the Celestial Horse Sect, who had reached the heights of supremacy.

A title bestowed exclusively to one person! How could it be that in this world, there were potentially fifteen returnees with the same title?

Yet, it was what followed Kwon Tae-ho’s words that shattered that flimsy doubt completely.

“However, you seem like the weakest of those I’ve faced.”

“……Huh?”

“Of course, the energy you’re currently emitting isn’t your full strength, but even just the energy you have now makes it clear how shabby your achievements are. I can’t believe you call yourself a Celestial Horse. Wait, are you even a real one? Maybe you’re just like a Celestial Horse wannabe or a bootleg?”

What a transparent provocation.

But it had an impact, especially as it came from someone as prideful as Seong Jin-hong.

– KRAAAASH!!!!

With a surge of energy far beyond what he had displayed earlier, Seong Jin-hong charged forward, fearlessly striking at Kwon Tae-ho.

– WHAM!!

His left palm unleashed an attack, but it was no ordinary strike.

Celestial Horse Palm.

A palm that claims the skies. As per its name, the moment it hits, no master can survive intact without expelling their insides and bleeding out from this ultimate technique of the Celestial Horse.

Hence, this Executor, who was several levels beneath him, would have no way to withstand it.

… Or so Seong Jin-hong was utterly convinced.

– THUNK!!

“?!”

A hand snatched the action directed straight at Kwon Tae-ho’s chest. Naturally, that hand was Kwon Tae-ho’s.

– BOOM!!!

As the arm was grasped, the Celestial Horse Palm failed to reach its goal, resulting in nothing but a fierce shockwave crashing around them.

Kwon Tae-ho, straightening his tousled hair with the other hand, frowned and replied.

“Tsk, why use such a dangerous technique in a residential area?”

His tone was like that of scolding a child.

– WHOOSH!!

Immediately afterward, Seong Jin-hong pulled his hand back violently, stepping far away. Only after retreating did he realize that he had just ‘retreated’ in front of his enemy.

How long had it been since he had stepped back against an opponent?

“No, more importantly, what just happened? He caught the Celestial Horse Palm? That scruffy-looking guy?!”

If he had dodged it, that was still understandable.

If he had blocked it, it would have been commendable.

But Kwon Tae-ho had intercepted it just as the attack was about to complete, which could only mean his movements were far quicker than Seong Jin-hong’s.

“Just a coincidence… No, it can’t be! The Celestial Horse Palm is one of the ultimate techniques! There is no way it could be countered by mere coincidence!”

But no matter what Seong Jin-hong thought, reality remained unchanged.

His face twisted in utter confusion. It was utterly incomprehensible that someone clearly weaker than him could so effortlessly catch the Celestial Horse Palm.

Meanwhile—

“How was that, rookie? Did you see well what I just did?”

From the rooftop vantage point, Lee Ha-yeon nodded at Kwon Tae-ho’s question.

“That was magic… It definitely was.”

To her, Seong Jin-hong’s attack had been invisible. However, she understood perfectly what Kwon Tae-ho had done right before the attack was unleashed.

Four.

Just before Seong Jin-hong’s fist extended, Kwon Tae-ho had activated a minimum of four spells simultaneously. The contents were as follows.

Increase Strength.

Acceleration.

Cognitive Enhancement.

Reflex Increase.

There was nothing particularly special about these; they were merely basic spells learned during the Executor training.

However, witnessing all of that cast simultaneously was a first, even including her instructors from the academy.

“Executors are those who subdue the unfit who run rampant. It’s no small task. Among the unfit, loads are considered geniuses. The stronger their power, the more likely they are to go wild when they return.”

Whether from the martial arts world, the world of fantasy, or from superpower realms, even demigods from celestial paradises, those who wield innate power and run amok as unfit beings. An Executor needs to be able to subdue all such individuals. For that to happen, one of two things must be true:

The Executor must also be a master, a natural-born specialist who has reached the peak in one field.

Or, even if they might fall behind in one area, they need to be an all-around generalist who’s honed everything else to clutch onto the genius by sheer will.

“Possessing all the strength and means available, dedicating oneself to subduing the target before them. That is the first step as an Executor. Take that to heart.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Well then…”

After imparting advice to Lee Ha-yeon, Kwon Tae-ho turned his gaze back to the opponent before him, who still bore a look of confusion post-encounter.

“Seeing that expression, I suppose you grasped a bit of what I meant. You may have once been the strongest in your world, but over here, there are many who are stronger than you.”

“How dare you… how dare you suggest such insolence!”

“Get a grip! You are no longer the strongest! The people stronger than you are all part of society, living by the rules and laws. So stop causing a ruckus and calm yourself!”

“Shut up! You think you can puff yourself up just because you stopped one hit?!”

– KRAAAAASH!!!!!

Seong Jin-hong drew upon his energy with all his might, and though he merely stood still, the pavement cracked, and the surroundings began to tremble.

“I am Seong Jin-hong, the Celestial Horse!!”

The energy he had drawn surged towards Seong Jin-hong’s right fist.

Celestial Horse Lightning Palm. The ultimate secret technique of the Celestial Horse.

He had likely only used this skill during his initial encounter with the martial arts leader.

“Hah!”

Holding his breath, he gathered himself. Soon, he would become one with a streak of thunder and dart towards the visible enemy in front of him like a bolt of lightning.

“Then again, if I could talk my way through this, we wouldn’t be here in the first place.”

Kwon Tae-ho shook his head at Lee Ha-yeon and said.

“You see? From now on, most returnees we encounter will be like this.”

And then.

“…this is why I believe violence is the answer for those returnees.”

– WHOOSH!!

Unexpectedly, Kwon Tae-ho darted forward before Seong Jin-hong.

Just mere moments before he threw a punch, Kwon Tae-ho had propelled himself slightly earlier than Seong Jin-hong had anticipated.

– SWISH!!

Simultaneously, several types of magic, various abilities, and an array of skills manifested across Kwon Tae-ho’s body.

Seong Jin-hong was weak for a Celestial Horse.

Nonetheless, even diminished, he was still a Celestial Horse. His talents, without question, were bestowed from above.

Kwon Tae-ho, whom one could consider a capable individual but not a prodigy, could never surpass that level.

However—

If he unleashed all the power and skills he had steadily cultivated and amassed…

Even without receiving talent from above, he could surely shake the heavens.

“You bastard!!”

Immediately following Kwon Tae-ho’s charge, Seong Jin-hong responded without hesitation, throwing a punch.

Celestial Horse Lightning Palm. His trump card. The ultimate technique. It was about to unfold like a magnificent painting from Seong Jin-hong’s core.

Yet just barely ahead of Seong Jin-hong’s skill blooming…

Kwon Tae-ho had already burrowed deep into Seong Jin-hong’s defenses and struck from within the eye of the storm.

– THWACK!!

A heavy punch found its target in Seong Jin-hong’s lower abdomen. In the very next moment, a potent force invaded deeply into Seong Jin-hong’s center.

“Kuh?!”

It felt as if his body twisted around his center. Their energies clashed violently within Seong Jin-hong’s body.

Though he was, of course, a master of that realm, and could quickly return his energy flow back to order. No slip they shared was even a fraction of a moment’s duration.

However, Kwon Tae-ho did not let that opening slip by.

– THWACK!!

His swinging fist landed squarely on Seong Jin-hong’s jaw. A vulnerable weak spot exposed for but a moment before Seong Jin-hong could properly realign his flowing energy. The impact sent his jaw turning and the brain within his skull rattling.

“Huh?”

A sensation of dizziness washed over him; he felt his strength drain away.

He lost all control over his body. The instant he realized it, Seong Jin-hong instinctively understood.

The first strike disrupted his center. The second, striking his jaw, took away his freedom of movement.

Those two hits were flawlessly calculated moves, designed to subdue the opponent without killing them.

– Whooooosh!

And just then, as Seong Jin-hong was on the verge of losing consciousness, the thought crossed his mind:

Was it really him, the pup barking without knowing fear?

– KRAAAASH!!!!

In that instant, a blazing force exploded, severing his consciousness completely. The three attacks, a near masterpiece, had utterly subdued the Celestial Horse, Seong Jin-hong.

– KRAASHHHH!!!!

In the next moment, the energy once concentrated in Seong Jin-hong’s fist burst outward.

– CRASH!! BANG!! KABOOM!!

The chaotic eruption of energy was untamed, causing all nearby glass to shatter, and the cars’ impact sensors to explode in piercing alarms.

– THUD.

Kwon Tae-ho caught Seong Jin-hong as he fell. Of course, he didn’t hold him gently.

Just like a drunken man staggering home, he carefully lain Seong Jin-hong down on the ground, letting out a deep exhale.

“Haah.”

One problem taken care of.

As if to say just that, Kwon Tae-ho gave a thumbs-up toward Lee Ha-yeon on the rooftop.

“Executor…!”

The rookie executor Lee Ha-yeon was deeply moved by her senior’s grand performance…

– BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!!

– BANG BANG BANG BANG!!

– BEEEP! BEEEP! BEEEP! BEEEP!

…but that couldn’t possibly happen. With the surrounding devastation so severe, there was no time to let emotion take over.

“Hmm.”

Kwon Tae-ho finally turned to look around at the cacophonous alarms.

The uneven ground, the caved-in walls, the shattered glass scattered everywhere, and the blaring alarms from cars.

As he surveyed the scene, he suddenly recalled the notice that had been posted at the entrance of his office.

[Kwon Tae-ho is to prepare compensation plans for residents and implement them immediately!]

[Caring for citizens as if they were mere tools disqualifies one from being an Executor!]

[Oppose Excessive Repression! Returnees are also people!]

[Kwon Tae-ho, get lost!]

“….Hah.”

The clamor around him grew faint. A sigh mixed with frustration escaped Kwon Tae-ho’s lips.

“Well, that’s just great.”

In the face of the irreversible calamity, Kwon Tae-ho thought to himself.

It seemed tomorrow, he would have to endure another long lecture from his nagging assistant.