Chapter 163
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 163.
After finishing the cleanup of Jerome’s aftermath, Yoo Baek-jun headed to the floating island with the necromancers in tow.
“So this is the floating island…”
“What, is this your first time seeing a flying island?”
“Well… of course it is?”
Noel, uncharacteristically wide-eyed, looked around the island in awe.
An island floating above the sea.
It was only natural to be amazed if it was his first time seeing one.
“You all can stay over there.”
There were newly constructed buildings in an area separate from where the elves resided.
Noel stared at the buildings in surprise.
“This is nice.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah, I never once imagined I’d get to live in a place like this…”
To Noel, the orphanage was a cozy and nostalgic place, but it wasn’t exactly comfortable to live in.
It was old, and lacked funding, so life there had been tough.
Still, he was nothing but grateful to the nun who had raised him, even at the cost of her own well-being.
“Make yourself at home. Don’t feel burdened.”
“Okay.”
“Then go on inside.”
Yoo Baek-jun gave Noel a light push on the back.
Dazed, Noel stared at the building before opening the door.
“Noel!”
Thud!
“Ugh!”
Suddenly, people rushed out from inside and hugged Noel tightly. They were his friends from the orphanage.
“Noooel! Waaah!”
“Hey, why are you crying… sniff.”
“You guys…”
And then, the nun.
“Welcome back, Noel.”
“Sister…”
Though they had been taken hostage, Yoo Baek-jun had used the intelligence division to rescue them.
An expression flickered across Noel’s face.
One of deep emotion. Watching this, Yoo Baek-jun turned his back and left.
‘No need for me to stick around.’
It was better to let them enjoy their reunion in private.
And above all else…
‘For an outsider like me, it’s a little…’
It felt awkward.
As Yoo Baek-jun walked away, Han Seong-ah, who had been waiting nearby, approached.
“Instructor Han Seong-ah, stay here for a while and make sure they’re comfortable. Call Lee Jun-woo and ensure there are no inconveniences.”
“Understood. And you, young master…?”
“I need to return to the family.”
There were things to report.
***
That evening.
Yoo Baek-jun returned directly to the family estate.
“Hmm… No matter when I come, this place is always so quiet.”
Having just come from the bustling development on the floating island, the contrast was even more pronounced.
The main house of the Sword Saint’s family remained unchanged throughout the seasons, preserving its current state.
—Purr…
“Must be nice being as carefree as you, huh?”
Seol-yeong was lying on the floor, belly up, rolling around lazily.
Watching it eased his mind.
‘I feel bad that the timing to go to the Spirit Realm keeps getting delayed, but there’s nothing I can do.’
Yoo Baek-jun picked Seol-yeong up.
Though he wanted to relax in his room, there was someone he had to meet.
He headed to Yoo Moo-hak’s residence.
A heavily guarded mansion even within the family. The swordsmen at the entrance greeted him.
“Welcome, young master.”
“Yeah, I’d like to see my father.”
“Understood. However, another guest arrived before you, so it may take some time.”
As the family head, Yoo Moo-hak always had many visitors, so this wasn’t unusual.
Yoo Baek-jun decided to wait in the room.
“Outside, summer is slowly approaching…”
But the family estate remained in the depths of winter.
Though the interior was warm due to protective barriers, stepping outside meant facing bitter cold.
“Hey, do you prefer it here?”
—Meow.
Seol-yeong stared intently at the snow falling outside the estate.
Born here and being a spirit whose name included ‘snow,‘ it was no surprise it liked the cold.
“Young master, the family head summons you.”
“Ah, alright.”
After spending some time in the room, a servant entered to guide him.
He walked down the familiar hallway toward the audience chamber.
Along the way…
“That’s…”
He spotted a familiar figure.
A man walking alone down the hallway without a single attendant, his demeanor somewhat frivolous.
None other than Yoo Kang-ho.
“Yoo Baek-jun.”
“……”
Yoo Kang-ho approached Yoo Baek-jun.
“Long time no see, brother. I heard you’ve been holed up—what brings you out?”
“Am I not allowed to leave?”
“Well, that’s not it.”
Their exchange was devoid of any brotherly affection, filled instead with hostility.
This was only natural.
They had clashed countless times, and one of them had even lost everything he once had.
“I just met with Father.”
“With Father?”
“Yes. I wanted to request permission to attack the gate that appeared at Seoraksan Mountain. Though someone as busy as you probably didn’t even notice the gate appeared.”
“That stings a little. I don’t think I should be hearing this from you, of all people.”
Yoo Kang-ho laughed silently.
In the past, he would’ve flown into a rage and lunged. Or perhaps he would’ve avoided confrontation altogether, hiding like a coward.
“But I don’t have anyone to go with me. So I asked Father for help.”
“Hmm, did he agree?”
“He did.”
Yoo Kang-ho had already failed once in attacking a gate. While all the other successors succeeded, he alone had failed.
The faction that once followed him had long since scattered during his seclusion.
“Are you confident?”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t.”
Yoo Baek-jun studied Yoo Kang-ho’s face.
There was a glimmer of confidence in his expression—something rarely seen in him lately.
‘This bastard, as expected…’
Seeing that, something came to mind.
“Well, I hope we don’t have to meet again, little brother.”
“…Hmph.”
Yoo Kang-ho left with a sneer.
Yoo Baek-jun stared intently at his retreating figure.
Traces of his magic lingered in the air.
A sticky, unsettling magic.
‘Yoo Tae-rang got his hands on him.’
It seemed Yoo Tae-rang had taken in the now-useless Yoo Kang-ho as a test subject.
He must’ve learned dark magic—perhaps even gone beyond that…
‘He might’ve even transcended humanity.’
The servant who had been observing their exchange slowly opened the door to the audience chamber.
Inside sat Yoo Moo-hak.
“It’s been a while, Father.”
“……”
Yoo Moo-hak was seated, reviewing documents.
He gestured for Yoo Baek-jun to sit across from him.
“……”
“……”
A brief silence passed.
Though it had been a long time since Yoo Baek-jun returned to the family, Yoo Moo-hak didn’t seem particularly interested.
Expecting fatherly affection from him was laughable to begin with.
“Why have you come?”
“I have a report.”
“Hmm, speak.”
Yoo Baek-jun recounted recent events, carefully omitting certain details.
“You rescued elves from another world and freed imprisoned necromancers. And now you intend to house them all on the floating island?”
“Yes, Father.”
He had been away from the family for a long time and had things to report.
Yoo Moo-hak set down the documents he was reviewing.
“The elves are one thing, but the latter seems like something best kept quiet.”
“It might draw criticism. Necromancers aren’t exactly welcomed by society.”
Raising the dead to serve them.
Though necromancers were individually powerful, modern society struggled to accept them due to the nature of their abilities.
“I’ll handle that issue. Please keep it a secret until then.”
“Can you resolve it?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
“……”
His bold confidence bordered on audacity.
But Yoo Baek-jun knew such an attitude would appeal to Yoo Moo-hak.
True to form, Yoo Moo-hak seemed satisfied.
“Interesting. One thing I’m curious about.”
“Yes, please go on.”
“Are you building your own faction? One entirely separate from the family, wholly yours.”
“……”
Yoo Baek-jun smiled without answering.
“Everything I do is for the family.”
“Well said.”
Yoo Moo-hak let out a small chuckle.
“I don’t care if you build your own independent force, but ultimately, your actions must benefit the family.”
“Understood.”
“If you’ve nothing else to say, you may leave.”
Yoo Moo-hak dismissed him and returned to his documents.
Yoo Baek-jun bowed and exited the audience chamber, leaving the residence.
In a secluded area…
“Jeon Soo-yeon.”
“…Yes, young master.”
At his call, Jeon Soo-yeon emerged from the shadows as if she had been waiting.
“Investigate Yoo Kang-ho. Find out who’s accompanying him to attack the gate.”
“Understood.”
Jeon Soo-yeon vanished once more.
Yoo Baek-jun looked up at the cloudy sky.
‘Is it finally time to kill Yoo Kang-ho?’
Regrettable, but there was no reason to keep him alive any longer.
If so, he had to be dealt with.
***
Choi Gun-woo busily moved around Busan.
His superior and Busan branch leader, Im Woo-do, had assigned him a task.
“Yes, you can install it here. As for this side… there are existing defense facilities.”
“The ones set up when monsters surged from the sea, right? Must be them. They’re so old, I’m not sure if they still work.”
“Then let’s replace these too.”
“Got it.”
Choi Gun-woo had extensive connections in Busan and, though not at the level of the Magic Tower, could coordinate with skilled guilds to install defense systems.
“Hmm…”
He sipped his iced coffee while overseeing the workers.
‘This is a complete copy of Seoul’s setup.’
A bitter smile touched his lips.
Im Woo-do had ordered him to replicate the defense preparations Yoo Baek-jun had implemented in Seoul.
Now that recovery from the Great Invasion was nearly complete, he wanted the same measures in place.
‘The young master said it’s good that his workload is reduced, but…’
Choi Gun-woo had reported this to Yoo Baek-jun, who had actually welcomed the news.
With too much on his plate, having someone else handle the tedious work was a relief.
Buzz—
Choi Gun-woo’s phone rang.
It was Im Woo-do.
“Yes, Branch leader.”
—Hey, Gun-woo. How’s the installation going?
“Proceeding as instructed. Should be done by the deadline.”
—Good, that’s great.
Im Woo-do laughed in satisfaction. Hearing this, Choi Gun-woo frowned.
This wasn’t a call just for praise. There was another purpose.
—By the way… there’s one more place I’d like you to install facilities.
“Just say the word, and I’ll handle it.”
—Check your messages.
Choi Gun-woo opened the map sent to him.
“This is… a remote area. Is there a need for defenses here?”
—You never know. I’d also like a suppression device installed there.
“A suppression device? You mean a trap that disables magic usage?”
—Exactly that.
Im Woo-do requested several traps and defense mechanisms be installed at the same location.
‘This is excessive.’
This wasn’t for defense.
There was clearly another purpose.
“Branch Leader, this is…”
—Shh, quiet. Eavesdroppers might be listening. Handle this discreetly—it’s highly classified. Very important.
“…Understood.”
Choi Gun-woo didn’t press further.
Questioning Im Woo-do’s orders was out of character and would only raise suspicion.
—Good. Keep up the good work.
Im Woo-do hung up, satisfied.
Choi Gun-woo stared at his phone, deep in thought.
The location, the devices…
‘This is a trap.’
The target was obvious.
Yoo Baek-jun. Lure him here, disable his powers with the traps, then attack using the defense systems.
“Hmm…”
If the powerful defenses worked as intended, they could deal significant damage.
But of course, he couldn’t let that happen.
‘The suppression devices have ally recognition.’
The function could be tweaked to only affect enemies while sparing allies.
If manipulated…
‘…They can be turned against him.’
Choi Gun-woo didn’t disobey Im Woo-do. He installed the defense systems and suppression traps as instructed.
“I wonder who’ll fall into the trap.”
Choi Gun-woo smiled quietly, envisioning the future.