Chapter 164
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 164.
And for several days, Yoo Baek-jun stayed on the floating island, observing the situation.
Min Yi-jae, in his place, waited at Jerome’s mansion and relayed Vivianne’s whereabouts.
—Yoo Baek-jun, Vivianne is being tailed. Just as you said, the Cult of Resurrection has confirmed Jerome’s death. They’ve assigned pursuers to Vivianne…
“That’s good news. How’s Vivianne doing?”
—She seems to be in chaos. She was panicking, not knowing what to do. For now, it doesn’t seem like she has any intention of talking to the Cult of Resurrection.
Jerome was dead.
To be precise, Jerome, who had become an undead, died again, and Vivianne, who killed him, fled.
“By now, the Cult of Resurrection must be in complete disarray.”
—That’s likely… With a little more effort, we can make the Cult of Resurrection and Vivianne clash.
“How?”
—I plan to gradually leak information so the Cult of Resurrection can track Vivianne’s whereabouts…
Vivianne intends to lay low and wait for things to calm down. Of course, I have no intention of letting that happen.
“I’ll leave it to you.”
—Then I’ll handle it my way…
Min Yi-jae ended the call.
No matter when I hear it, his voice is always reassuring.
‘I really picked the right person.’
Anyway,
Vivianne likely killed Jerome, who was turned into an undead by Noel, and the news has spread.
Vincent won’t stay idle either.
‘If it were any other character, they’d find it strange and suspect something, but since it’s Vivianne…’
It makes perfect sense.
Should I say she’s simple-minded? Vivianne isn’t lacking in intelligence, but she dislikes thinking and takes everything at face value.
She’ll believe she killed Jerome and, fearing Vincent’s reprimand, will have fled.
‘Without realizing it’s only making things worse.’
Yoo Baek-jun chuckled softly.
Right now, he was on the floating island. On the way here, he secretly checked the situation in Busan—the Cult of Resurrection’s preparations were nearly complete.
Now, the Night of Death event will begin.
‘At most, two weeks. If my predictions are correct, the event will trigger within 10 days.’
Yoo Baek-jun fell into thought.
The Night of Death event must happen, especially to deal with Vincent.
The problem is the civilian casualties that come with it. To minimize that…
“I’ll have to move the floating island.”
At the right time, move the floating island over Busan and use it as a shelter.
Rescuing civilians during the Night of Death event is crucial.
Because those people could become enemies.
“Hmm… As for Busan’s defenses, my brother will handle that.”
Then, instead of worrying about Busan’s defenses, I should focus on the floating island.
Yoo Baek-jun called people in and set up facilities on the floating island to serve as shelters.
He also prepared various devices in anticipation of a large influx of people.
“Human, human. What’s this?”
“Huh? Ah, it’s because a lot of humans might swarm the island, and I don’t want you guys to get hurt.”
“Is it like a barrier?”
“You could say that.”
While at it, he also set up barriers to protect the areas where the elves lived.
Not long ago, they had suffered at human hands and been driven from their homeland, so he figured they might have PTSD around humans.
Delowin, who had approached, nodded with a dazed expression as if understanding.
“Ah! I also met the dwarf uncles. But they fought a lot with Ignasil.”
“Why? Do their personalities clash?”
“Yes… That’s part of it, but a while ago, they cut down trees without permission…”
“That’s understandable.”
The two races had vastly different values.
One side doesn’t hesitate to harm nature to develop resources.
The other believes resources should be developed while preserving nature as much as possible.
‘Conflict is inevitable, I guess.’
Yoo Baek-jun plans to make the floating island a home for races and allies with nowhere else to go.
With so many different people gathered, clashes in values are inevitable.
He’ll have to mediate carefully.
“I’ll talk to Bigtums later.”
“Okay… I’ll also tell Ignasil separately to stop fighting so much.”
At least Delowin, who leads the elves, has a mild-mannered personality.
Yoo Baek-jun nodded.
—Meowww, wooawoo…
“Why’s she like that?”
“Who knows?”
In Delowin’s arms was the fairy, her eyes spinning in circles.
—Clothes, just how many outfits, awoo…
“Huh? She changed clothes.”
“Yes! I was bothered that she always wore the same thing, so I made a few sets.”
Now that he looked, the fairy’s outfit had changed.
From a roughly woven leaf outfit to one made with carefully arranged leaves.
‘What’s the difference?’
Yoo Baek-jun tilted his head in confusion.
—You’re going overboard! How many outfits are you making?
“But…”
—But what but!
“Ah, do you not like the clothes? Then I have others!”
—W-wait…
The fairy shot Yoo Baek-jun a pleading look. Of course, he ignored it.
—Awooaaah… S-Seol-yeong, help meee…
—Mmmnom?
The fairy was dragged away by Delowin, calling for Seol-yeong’s help, but the tiger was too busy eating the snacks Yoo Baek-jun had given it.
—Traitorrr…
—Nomnom.
Yoo Baek-jun lounged on a beach chair, leisurely tossing meat to Seol-yeong.
He was setting up various things on the floating island, but that wasn’t his job.
“Money is the best.”
Paid professionals would handle the work. So, he delegated and relaxed.
“How long has it been since I last rested…?”
—Mnyaaah, nyam. Mrowr!
“Oh, really? You finished the Hanwoo beef already? What should I give you next? How about some Wagyu?”
—Waooh!
As Yoo Baek-jun waved the meat teasingly, Seol-yeong lifted its head eagerly.
Just as he was about to toss it—
“No.”
—Myaaah?!
The meat was pulled away by an unseen force.
Seol-yeong chased after it in shock, but it was too late.
The meat landed in someone’s grasp.
“I’ll feed her.”
Elegantly outstretched fingers.
The owner of that hand was Jin Seo-yeon.
“…Why are you here?”
“Am I not allowed to be here?”
“Well, no. Are you free?”
“I’m not free.”
Seol-yeong, desperate for the meat, leaped into Jin Seo-yeon’s arms.
She cradled the tiger and began feeding it the stolen meat.
“Isn’t it too thin? You’re not neglecting it because you’re busy, are you?”
“Are your eyes just for show? To me, it looks plump and there is no point in worrying about its health.”
“Seol-yeong, did this mean man starve you?”
—Nyam, nyamnyam…
Jin Seo-yeon tried to talk to it, but Seol-yeong didn’t even pretend to listen.
It just ate the meat like it was in a trance.
“Look at how frantically it’s eating. You…”
“Hey, if you don’t feed it, do you think it’d stay still? It’d bite you for more if it could.”
“…That’s true.”
Jin Seo-yeon fed Seol-yeong some fruit she’d brought from who-knows-where.
‘She’s like a grandma.’
Watching her, it felt like seeing a grandma spoiling her grandchild with treats.
Jin Seo-yeon’s lips curled into a bright smile.
“…….”
“Why are you staring?”
“No, I was just wondering why you came.”
“You called the Magic Tower, didn’t you?”
Now that he thought about it, he had asked the Magic Tower for help setting up barriers on the floating island.
“I didn’t expect you to come personally.”
“Installing barriers on an island this size isn’t something just anyone can do. Especially within your deadline.”
“So you came yourself?”
“Yeah. Aren’t you grateful?”
Yoo Baek-jun made a sour face.
“You… It feels like you came for another reason. Am I wrong?”
“You’re wrong.”
Jin Seo-yeon smiled uncharacteristically warmly as she petted Seol-yeong.
Not that the tiger cared—it was too focused on the meat.
“Ah, right. Someone else came too. That Holy Knight from Crimson Crusade.”
“Ryu Il-woo?”
“Yeah, he came with me… Oh, there he is.”
Jin Seo-yeon pointed behind Yoo Baek-jun.
Turning, he saw a massive figure in heavy armor approaching.
And Han Seong-ah too.
“Young master, we have guests.”
“You called for me.”
“Yes. I should’ve gone to you, but instead, you came to me. I’m a bit sorry about that.”
Ryu Il-woo plopped down on the spot.
“Don’t worry about trivial things. It’s fine—seeing the island’s scenery isn’t bad either.”
“Do you like it?”
“Putting that aside… I’m surprised. I never thought that barren land could become like this in such a short time.”
The once-desolate wasteland of the demon realm was now lush with plants and forests.
Thanks to the World Tree’s power and the elves’ expertise in nurturing plants.
“So, why did you call me?”
“Two things. First…”
Yoo Baek-jun pointed at the necromancers.
“Please free them from their brainwashing.”
“Hmm, these don’t seem like ordinary people.”
“Yes, they’re necromancers.”
Ryu Il-woo smirked wryly.
“You’re asking a Holy knight to undo brainwashing for necromancers? Our god would have something to say about that.”
“Then do it secretly.”
“Easier said than done.”
Yoo Baek-jun knew it was a stretch, but there was no one else to ask.
“At least, I’ll think about it. What’s the second matter?”
“A while back, I asked for your help in raiding a research facility.”
“That’s right.”
Yoo Baek-jun straightened his posture.
“An undead outbreak on the scale of Seoul will happen in Busan. We need your help.”
“…….”
Ryu Il-woo fell into thought at that. A faint glimmer of interest flickered across his face.
“And to overcome it, we need those necromancers. If that’s the case… even the god you serve might understand.”
“Hah, this is something.”
Bold words indeed.
Ryu Il-woo let out something between a sigh and a chuckle.
“…I suppose he might understand.”
It seemed appealing.
* * *
The conversation with Ryu Il-woo ended well.
After hearing the details, he said it sounded like his kind of job and that he’d discuss it with his guild.
‘That’s as good as a yes.’
If he hadn’t been interested, he would’ve refused outright.
With Jin Seo-yeon and the Magic Tower’s help, Yoo Baek-jun set up barriers on the floating island.
Barriers covering the entire island.
Defensive facilities to attack approaching enemies were also installed.
“It’s like a mobile fortress.”
The thought of this fortress running rampant in Busan sent a thrill through him.
Jin Seo-yeon decided to stay on the island for a while to assist with the work.
—In exchange, I’ll take care of Seol-yeong.
With those words, she took Seol-yeong away.
‘Peace and quiet. Not bad.’
Lately, Seol-yeong’s snoring at night had been anything but ordinary.
Enjoying the quiet, Yoo Baek-jun opened the Book of the Martial God for the first time in a while.
“The points I have now… 2,600P.”
Minor quests along the way had brought him up to 2,600P.
Just 400P more, and he’d reach 3,000P.
‘I should learn a trait.’
There was a trait useful for the Night of Death event and purifying the demonic sword Grandal.
The downside was its exorbitant cost.
‘I’m a bit short on points, but clearing the North Sea Ice Palace gate should cover it.’
North Sea Ice Palace.
Yoo Baek-jun sighed.
“That woman is so hard to deal with.”
But he had no choice if he wanted the skill.
Yoo Baek-jun prepared to conquer the gate.