Chapter 157
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 157.
The elves and Yoo Baek-jun disappeared through the gate. And not long after, the Royal army arrived at the location of the World Tree.
“You damned elves, this is the end! Everyone…!”
The strategist at the forefront shouted boldly.
But there was no one there.
Only an empty clearing.
“Search the area! Hurry!”
“There’s no one here, Enadis!”
“Damn it! Did we miss them?!”
The lead strategist, Enadis, kicked the ground and cursed. If it weren’t for those blasted spirits interfering, they would have arrived in time.
“Enadis! We’ve received a report that the elf village has been occupied. However—”
“However, what? Report quickly!”
“The village is completely empty. That’s why the occupation was so fast… All the valuables stored in the village are also gone.”
Enadis felt his vision sway.
The elves had taken everything when they fled. All the rare treasures kept in the village.
‘We lost the elves. We couldn’t get the precious treasures from the village. And Farowell is dead.’
If His Majesty finds out, he’ll have the heads of the strategists, including himself.
Even if they survive, their positions will become unstable, and they’ll be looked down upon.
“…The mine.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s go to the mine. We need to check its condition.”
That was the last hope.
Enadis led the soldiers to the mine, only to encounter obstacles prepared by Elonan.
And when they finally broke through after weeks of effort—
Crrrr…
“What’s that sound?!”
“D-danger! Enadis, hurry to the surface! The mine is…!”
They had eagerly investigated the mine, but the outcome awaiting them was only one.
“The mine is collapsing! Hurry!”
“Wha…! Aaaah!”
“Cough! Ughhh!”
The mine collapsed.
The crumbling mine buried Enadis.
“Why…? Aaaaagh—!”
A desperate scream echoed.
* * *
The floating island was enjoying a peaceful time.
—Meow, purr, growl…
—Let’s plant this here too.
—Chirp, chirrrrp!
Seol-yeong was rolling around on the ground, basking in the warm sunlight, while the fairy of the World Tree was tending to the fields with the spirits.
‘It’s like watching children play.’
Han Seong-ah watched fondly.
Seeing the tiny creatures like this naturally made her feel warm inside.
But her heart wasn’t entirely at ease.
‘Young master, I hope you’re alright….’
A full day had passed since Yoo Baek-jun entered the gate.
Han Seong-ah had returned to the floating island using magic, as he had instructed beforehand.
—I’ll be back in a day. I probably won’t return near here, so wait for me on the floating island. Take Seol-yeong with you.
“Hmm….”
Han Seong-ah tilted her head, recalling Yoo Baek-jun’s words.
Normally, when conquering a gate, one would exit from the point of entry.
But the floating island?
It was a place quite far away.
—Meow…
“Huh? What’s wrong? Want a treat?”
Lost in thought, she noticed Seol-yeong approaching, looking at her expectantly.
Han Seong-ah smiled and took out a treat.
‘As the young master often says, sometimes it’s hard to tell if this one’s a tiger or a cat.’
Just as she was about to feed the treat to Seol-yeong, who had opened its mouth—
Boom!
—Eek!
“Ahh!”
A loud tremor shook the area.
Startled, Seol-yeong clamped its mouth shut, accidentally biting Han Seong-ah’s finger as she was feeding it.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked toward the source of the sound—the World Tree.
—Huh? Uhh…?
A gate was opening there.
The fairy of the World Tree stared in surprise. The World Tree was reacting to something.
—Someone is speaking… Huh? Uhh? What? They’re saying, ‘Take care of them in my place’?
Unintelligible words.
Before the fairy could even process what it meant—
“Aaaah!”
—Waaah!
Elves began pouring out of the gate.
A flood of elves tumbled out, tangled together, rolling on the ground and ruining the fields.
—My fiiiield! Who are these jerks?!
The fairy pouted and stomped around angrily.
“Who else would they be? Your new friends.”
—Huh?! Oh, it’s the human!
Yoo Baek-jun leisurely stepped out of the gate after the elves.
Unlike the others, he landed safely.
—Huh? New friends?
“Yeah. Hey, Delowin. Get up. Pull yourself together.”
“Ugh… Human… My head’s spinning… I feel sick….”
—Hey! Get up already! My field!
Delowin’s eyes were spinning, and the fairy tugged at her arm.
Yoo Baek-jun sighed.
“What a mess.”
—Whose fault is that?!
The fairy screeched.
* * *
Anyway,
The elves, arriving on the floating island for the first time, were deeply moved upon seeing the World Tree.
“Oh… Ohhh. The World Tree… The World Tree is….”
“I never thought I’d see it alive again.”
“But… it feels a bit too small….”
—It’s still growing!
Since the World Tree was still a sapling, it was small. Compared to the colossal World Tree in the elves’ memories, the difference was stark—no, enormous.
“It’s alright, fairy. We’ll take care of it. Just tell us what needs to be done.”
—R-really? Is that okay?
“Yes, that’s my duty.”
Delowin smiled warmly and said so, tending to the World Tree with utmost devotion.
Days passed, and the elves, initially awkward, began to adapt little by little.
They stayed near the World Tree.
“Is it alright to live here?”
“Yes, I built it according to the fairy’s preferences. I modeled it after the elf village, so it shouldn’t feel too unfamiliar.”
“Hmm, not bad. Thank you.”
Elonan seemed satisfied.
Several buildings had already been constructed near the World Tree, so there were plenty of places to stay.
“For now, stay here. Later, we can create a separate area for you.”
“I don’t know how to thank you enough. If there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word, human.”
Ignasil bowed deeply.
Yoo Baek-jun waved his hand dismissively.
“If you really want to thank me, just take good care of the World Tree. It’s been feeling a bit lonely with no one to keep it company.”
“Of course. Though Delowin’s already doing a fine job….”
Delowin, with blood flowing with the World Tree’s power, never left its side.
The fairy also seemed to like her.
“First, we’ll cultivate the area as the World Tree wishes. It seems to have planted many things.”
“That’d be great.”
“Hmm, besides that….”
Perhaps troubled by the attack on the Ruwinid Forest by the kingdom’s army, Ignasil proposed strengthening the floating island’s defenses.
Using the Verdant Magic Stones to create a barrier covering the entire island, for instance.
“I was already thinking of setting up defenses. This works out well. What do you think of adding these as well?”
“Hmm… Sorry, but I wouldn’t know just by looking.”
“Then take a look later.”
They also decided to collaborate with the Magic Tower to install defensive structures like turrets.
This would be a great help when facing the impending calamity in Busan.
“Ah, right. Delowin said she had something to tell you… Oh, here she comes.”
Just as Ignasil brought it up, Delowin approached from afar.
She was covered in dirt, having just finished tending to the plants around the World Tree.
“Human!”
“Hey, you seem to be doing well?”
“Yes! Being with the World Tree is fun, and tending the fields is enjoyable too.”
“That’s good. Let me know if you need anything or if something’s inconvenient.”
“I will.”
Yoo Baek-jun had deliberately kept modern conveniences like TVs and phones away to help the elves adjust to life on the floating island.
Once they were fully settled, he’d gradually introduce them to such things.
“You had something to tell me?”
“Ah, yes. I have something for you.”
Delowin’s ears twitched.
She pulled something out from her pocket.
“Here.”
A vial of mysterious liquid.
Yoo Baek-jun pretended not to recognize it.
“What’s this?”
“The World Tree sheds its essence at certain times. This is a potion made from that concentrated liquid. My father used to make them.”
Delowin handed over the potion.
“I’d like you to have it.”
“Is it okay for me to take something so precious?”
“Yes, you’re our benefactor. This is the only way I can repay you….”
“No need for repayment. Taking care of the World Tree is more than enough.”
But there was no reason to refuse.
Yoo Baek-jun accepted the potion.
“I’ll use it well.”
“Yes!”
She beamed brightly.
* * *
Yoo Baek-jun headed to the Seoul branch of the Sword Saint family and summoned Choi Seung-min there as well.
“Oh? Young master, you left saying you had business, but you’re back sooner than expected.”
“Yeah, it didn’t take long. Anyway.”
Yoo Baek-jun gestured.
Choi Seung-min handed him a document as if he already knew what was needed.
“I made the donation as you instructed. That… What was it? Saber? Saviors?”
“Saviors International.”
“Ah, right. They contacted us, so I gave them the amount you specified. A huge sum.”
“Good job. You met them in person, right? How did they react? Did they suspect anything?”
“Not that I could tell…?”
Choi Seung-min tilted his head.
Though he lacked talent as a swordsman, he was quick-witted.
And thorough in his work.
“If anything, they probably think we’re easy marks. Oh, they also asked where you went. I told them you were busy conquering gates.”
“Good work. Take a break.”
“Yes.”
The facilities where the Cult of Resurrection researched demonification had all been destroyed. But only a handful within the sect knew this.
Vincent was using the Metamorphosis serum he’d prepared in advance as bait to gather donations.
‘I just play the naive donor who knows nothing and hands over money.’
There was a way to use this.
Yoo Baek-jun pulled out a document from his drawer—an organizational chart of the Cult of Resurrection members.
‘No need to deal with the small fry. Just the higher-ups, especially those handling critical tasks.’
He planned to eliminate them.
Of course, not outright. He’d make Vincent suspect betrayal within the sect and have him purge them himself.
“Hmm… Not too hard.”
Fabricating evidence was child’s play. After memorizing the chart, Yoo Baek-jun stood up.
Though he’d just returned from rescuing the elves, he had to get back to work immediately.
“This is insane. Work right after getting back?”
Talk about luck.
Yoo Baek-jun let out a deep, truly deep sigh—one of many he’d had to exhale lately.