Chapter 193
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 193.
The gathering called by Yoo Moo-hak ended early.
The people who had been there dispersed and returned to their daily lives, spreading what they had witnessed in the process.
“The numbers have dwindled quite a bit.”
“Well, after so many died in Busan… It’s no surprise the family head is furious.”
“Still, I never expected him to speak so openly in such a public setting.”
“Tsk, listen to you. Do you think this is some trivial matter? Even if he’s the successor, he has to say what needs to be said.”
The recent massacre in Busan.
Yoo Tae-rang, who had led the charge, suffered a devastating failure, and Yoo Kang-ho, who had supported him, died.
Moreover, countless swordsmen who followed Yoo Tae-rang also lost their lives in Busan.
“To think even Kang Dae-sung perished…”
“I heard he was trying to hastily regroup with the main force when he got surrounded by the undead. The others who died faced similar situations.”
“If only Yoo Tae-rang had handled things properly like Yoo Baek-jun, the casualties wouldn’t have been this severe…”
“At least Yoo Baek-jun took command later. That was a relief. He has experience from Seoul, after all.”
Words that would have been unimaginable just a few months ago. But now, they didn’t seem strange at all.
No one in the family underestimated Yoo Baek-jun anymore.
He had proven himself.
His capabilities.
“What will happen to Lord Yoo Tae-rang?”
That was the remaining question.
The family members were lost in thought.
The position of the next family head, once firmly secured for Yoo Tae-rang, was now dangerously unstable, and Yoo Baek-jun was poised to take it.
―Should we switch sides even now?
―Who has a higher chance of becoming the family head?
―What’s the point of siding with Yoo Baek-jun at this stage? Wouldn’t it be better to stay with Yoo Tae-rang…?
Yoo Baek-jun was well aware of the whispers circulating within the family.
“Chaos, absolute chaos.”
The sound of people scheming reached even Yoo Baek-jun’s room.
What would benefit them the most.
Whose side would secure their future—such were the thoughts occupying their minds.
Yoo Baek-jun found it all fascinating.
‘What’s so great about this family?’
The swordsmen of this family were all exceptional hunters. Even without being tied to the family, they could easily make their way in the outside world.
Yet, they valued the family deeply and were intensely interested in who would become the successor.
‘Why do these people follow the family?’
When playing the game, he hadn’t paid much attention to it. It was just part of the ‘setting,‘ after all.
But now that it was reality, their loyalty sometimes struck him as odd.
‘Not that there isn’t a reason.’
First and foremost—money.
The Sword Saint Family was a place of immense wealth and staggering income.
The fortune amassed wasn’t hoarded by the family alone but distributed generously among the swordsmen.
‘Financially, most hunters would kill to earn what they do here. It’s just the danger that’s the problem.’
Next—skills.
In the world of Heroes Road, hunters found it extremely difficult to learn skills.
They either trained alone through grueling effort, received them as gifts from others, or used skill books.
‘But in this family, as long as you’re loyal, you can learn skills that are nearly impossible to acquire out in the wild.’
That’s how it worked.
The family used its long history of skills as a leash to ensure loyalty.
The more strength you gained, the more you contributed to the family, the more loyalty you showed—the higher-tier skills you could learn.
‘Call them power-obsessed freaks, I guess.’
Yoo Baek-jun clicked his tongue.
Many of the Sword Saint Family’s disciples were those without families. It was such a harsh place that only those with nothing to lose came.
As a result, they often became fixated on ‘strength‘ and ‘skills.‘ Like Im Woo-do.
“Offering them clear rewards to feel indebted to the family is one method.”
They were taught to live like proper human beings, and if they later wished to leave the family, they were connected to branches to continue their work.
Yoo Moo-hak had paid particular attention to that aspect.
‘When Yoo Tae-rang became family head, he neglected that, and the family began to crumble.’
Yoo Baek-jun let out a long sigh.
The tangible reward he could offer—
‘It’d have to be skills.’
The things obtainable from the Tower of the Martial God.
They would be more than enough to lure the power-hungry members of the Sword Saint Family.
“That’ll work for them. Then what about Yoo Min? What reward would sway her?”
She had remained neutral until now.
But from this point on, neutrality wouldn’t be an option. Everyone in the family would have to pick a side.
“Will she follow Yoo Tae-rang, or—”
Yoo Baek-jun slowly rose from his seat.
“Will she follow me?”
* * *
Yoo Moo-hak was in his room.
As always, he sat with his back turned, gazing through the window at the blizzard outside.
Behind him stood several figures.
“Family Head! This decision is too harsh!”
“It’s true that Yoo Tae-rang committed a grave mistake, but was it necessary to address it so publicly…? I’m not sure.”
The Sword Saints of the family.
Among them, Jeon Dae-kwon and Lee Gun-mo were the most vocal in expressing their opinions.
Yoo Moo-hak remained silent, simply staring outside.
“Family Head, hadn’t the succession already been decided? I thought you had chosen Yoo Tae-rang…”
“Decided?”
Yoo Moo-hak, who had been standing motionless, finally reacted.
He turned around.
His eyes, devoid of emotion just like Yoo Tae-rang’s, fixed on the Sword Saints.
An intense pressure bore down on Jeon Dae-kwon and Lee Gun-mo. They swallowed hard.
“An amusing statement. As if you could see right through my thoughts.”
“…That wasn’t my intention.”
“Of course not. I know.”
Jeon Dae-kwon gulped.
Yoo Moo-hak, the absolute ruler of the Sword Saint Family, where the law of the jungle reigned supreme.
His power was beyond even the Sword Saints’ comprehension.
“Nothing is decided. The one with greater strength, the more exceptional one, will become the family head.”
“But…”
Lee Gun-mo clicked his tongue inwardly.
In the past, they wouldn’t have hesitated to choose Yoo Tae-rang. The fact that such words were spoken at all meant his standing had significantly eroded.
‘What should we do? What can we say to sway the Family Head’s mind?’
Jeon Dae-kwon and Lee Gun-mo pondered.
Then, Cheon Jong-won stepped forward.
“But, Family Head.”
Yoo Moo-hak’s gaze shifted to him.
“If the succession remains undecided, conflict will arise. The longer it drags on, the more the Sword Saint Family will deteriorate.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“The losses in Busan were severe. Given that, wouldn’t it be better to settle the succession quickly, one way or another?”
A suffocating silence followed.
Yoo Moo-hak stared wordlessly at Cheon Jong-won, who met his gaze without flinching.
“I’ll take it under consideration.”
That was all he said after the long silence.
“I’m well aware of the Sword Saints’ concerns. Rest assured, I won’t let what you fear come to pass.”
He turned his back again.
“Leave me with Ja-yeon. Everyone else, go.”
“…Understood.”
Jeon Dae-kwon and Lee Gun-mo left with discontented expressions, while Cheon Jong-won bowed and retreated.
Only Ja-yeon and Yoo Moo-hak remained.
It was a natural scene, given that she was the one he trusted most after years by his side.
“You’re being cruel, Family Head.”
Ja-yeon, who had been silently drinking tea until now, spoke softly.
“You knew all along, didn’t you? What happened in Busan, why it turned out that way…”
“Yes, I knew.”
Yoo Moo-hak answered without hesitation.
“Yoo Tae-rang tried to exploit Yoo Baek-jun’s information, but Baek-jun turned it into a trap. And when Yoo Tae-rang tried to kill him, Baek-jun thwarted it.”
Yoo Moo-hak was no fool.
He was fully aware of the schemes at play.
“And that Yoo Kang-ho died in the process.”
Ja-yeon set down her teacup.
Their gazes met in the air.
“Yoo Baek-jun killed him, didn’t he?”
“Yes. All evidence was erased, but it was undoubtedly his doing.”
“I see.”
Yoo Moo-hak’s eyes returned to the window.
“Yoo Tae-rang… He eliminated every rival successor to get this far, only for the biggest obstacle to appear before him now.”
“He won’t stay idle.”
“No. Given his ruthless nature, he’ll likely make a move soon.”
It was partly his innate disposition, but his unique abilities also played a role.
Yoo Moo-hak knew that too.
“Will you intervene beforehand?”
“Me?”
Yoo Moo-hak smirked.
“I became family head by walking the same path as Yoo Tae-rang. For me to stop him now would be hypocritical.”
Ja-yeon bowed her head.
“Another storm of blood is coming.”
His eyes, fixed on the raging blizzard, held an unreadable emotion.
“Ja-yeon.”
“Yes, I’m listening.”
“I heard you support Yoo Baek-jun.”
“……”
Ja-yeon nodded.
There was no point denying it.
“I’m not reprimanding you. The fact that you, who’ve remained neutral for so long, now support someone means you’ve made a careful decision.”
“…Yes, that’s correct.”
Yoo Moo-hak exhaled deeply.
“If Yoo Baek-jun does become family head, I’d like you to stand by him and guide him well.”
“Understood.”
Even as she answered, Ja-yeon felt something was off.
His words sounded as if Yoo Moo-hak wouldn’t be around if Yoo Baek-jun took over.
“With Song Dae-san dead and me stepping down as family head… It’ll mark the end of an era.”
A faint smile touched Yoo Moo-hak’s lips.
“Perhaps the time has come.”
“If the time has come…?”
Yoo Moo-hak gave no answer. He only looked at Ja-yeon with a vague smile.
One she had never seen in all her years by his side.
“I’ll be away for a while starting next week. Ensure nothing happens to the family in my absence.”
“Yes, understood.”
Ja-yeon bowed deeply, recalling the smile she had just seen.
* * *
Yoo Baek-jun visited Yoo Min’s estate.
Only a few attendants were present, and the place was immaculate—almost suspiciously so.
Not a speck of dust in sight.
“Why are you here?”
Yoo Min was in her room, enjoying a book. She sipped steaming coffee, utterly at ease.
“You look relaxed. Good to see.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“Does it sound that way?”
Yoo Baek-jun sat across from her.
An attendant served him tea, and he too began sipping leisurely.
The sound of pages turning and tea being drunk filled the quiet room.
“…….”
Yoo Min glanced at him mid-read.
Then she sighed and set the book down.
It was hard to focus with him here.
“…Seriously, why did you come? You didn’t visit just for small talk, did you?”
“Of course not.”
Only when Yoo Min showed interest did Yoo Baek-jun finally set down his cup.
He met her gaze directly.
“Isn’t it time to pick a side?”
“What?”
Their eyes locked.
“I need your cooperation.”
“Cooperation? For what?”
“For what’s coming soon…”
Yoo Baek-jun spoke slowly.
“Cooperation in preparation for civil war.”
The words dropped from his lips as casually as a bomb.