Chapter 228
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 228.
Yoo Jung-yeon and Yoo Min left.
Yoo Baek-jun fell into thought as he looked at the cake box placed on the table.
‘I managed to stop the Hunter Association from causing trouble this time, but…’
This won’t be the end of it.
Those bastards will keep targeting the Sword Saint family. They’ll attack other families and guilds first, then come for the Sword Saint family.
‘To be honest, most places have some kind of corruption or scandal.’
Nowhere is completely clean.
These days, former family heads or guild leaders are retiring, and even if they were clean, their successors are often dirty.
The Association is already aware of such things and plans to exploit them.
‘The Association’s goal is to gain public opinion and crush those forces.’
That said, they’re not on bad terms with every family or guild.
There are those who side with them.
‘Hyenas who stand to benefit if the existing powers collapse…’
Those bastards are eagerly cooperating with the Hunter Association for that very reason.
One of them is Vulcanus.
Not long ago, Jo Yang-woo picked a fight with Yoo Baek-jun, and that was because Vulcanus gave him the green light.
‘If I use those two well…’
Yoo Baek-jun tapped the desk.
They probably won’t bother me for a while, but unfortunately—
‘I can’t just let those who picked a fight with me off the hook.’
The Hunter Association, Jo Yang-woo, Vulcanus.
I have no intention of leaving them alone. And the same goes for the Golden Lion Guild.
There’s a lot to do, but I’ve grown used to having a lot on my plate.
Tap, tap.
A sound broke Yoo Baek-jun’s train of thought. The sound of something being tapped.
—Growl, grumble, sniff.
“Ah, no. Seol-yeong, over here…”
Seol-yeong was tapping the cake box with its front paws. It seemed it was tempted by what was inside.
Han Seong-ah tried to stop it, but it was more of a half-hearted attempt.
‘…Looks like they both want to eat it?’
Han Seong-ah is usually composed, but she loosens up around desserts.
Yoo Baek-jun took out the cake Yoo Jung-yeon had brought and handed it to her.
“Share it nicely between the two of you.”
“F-Family head. For me…?”
“Wipe the drool off your mouth first.”
“Eek!”
Han Seong-ah wiped the drool from her mouth.
“Just eat it comfortably.”
“Ugh… A-Alright.”
Yoo Baek-jun kept insisting, so she couldn’t refuse.
Han Seong-ah carefully picked up the cake plate and held a fork in her hand.
Then, a bite.
“……!”
—Munch, chew, nom nom…
Han Seong-ah’s face brightened.
The two sat on Yoo Baek-jun’s bed and began eating the cake together.
Yoo Baek-jun silently watched her and Seol-yeong eat the cake.
‘Why does someone so composed lose their mind at the sight of desserts?’
The question suddenly crossed his mind.
Well, watching them makes me feel warm, so it’s not bad.
Swish.
Yoo Baek-jun twirled his pen.
“It’ll take some time to secure the scene. Might as well get some work done in the meantime.”
There was one thing he needed to do.
‘I need to get another magic circle.’
A magic circle that aids training, like the enhanced training circle he recently acquired.
Yoo Baek-jun got up from his seat.
* * *
Yoo Baek-jun headed to a mountain in the country.
A famous mountain mainly used as a tourist spot. Deep inside, there was a gate.
“Hmm, as expected.”
An Entry-type gate.
It hadn’t swollen much yet. It wouldn’t break free even if left alone for a while.
Not that he planned to let it break free, of course.
Yoo Baek-jun examined the gate’s information.
[The Dominating Orcs.]
For unknown reasons, an anomaly occurred in the peaceful Merbella Mountain Range.
Countless orcs suddenly began appearing. These orcs were larger and stronger than ordinary orcs.
Using their immense strength and overwhelming numbers, the orcs dominated the Merbella Mountain Range, enslaving monsters and humans alike.
The cause of this anomaly must be investigated.
—Difficulty: A+ rank
—Entry limit: 50 people
—Objective: Eliminate the cause of the anomaly
—Reward: Varies depending on choices
The quest title was unusual.
‘The Dominating Orcs, huh.’
Orcs are typically B-rank monsters. No matter how many there are, they shouldn’t warrant an A+ rank difficulty.
This means an anomaly has occurred.
And Yoo Baek-jun knew exactly what that anomaly was.
“The difficulty is high, but whatever. A gate like this is manageable alone.”
It’s not a dungeon that takes too long. A day should be enough to clear it.
“Family head, the entry limit is generous. Shouldn’t we go together…?”
“No need. It’s easier alone.”
Han Seong-ah looked worried, but Yoo Baek-jun had no intention of backing down.
“You two stay here. It’s unlikely, but someone might come.”
“…Understood.”
Leaving a sulky Han Seong-ah behind, Yoo Baek-jun stepped forward.
The gate swallowed him whole.
* * *
The Merbella Mountain Range was vast and boasted a harsh environment.
Various types of monsters lived in clusters throughout the range.
It had been that way for ages.
—Grrraaah!
—Y-You’re too strong…!
Then, an anomaly occurred in the mountain range.
One day, mutated orcs began appearing out of nowhere.
Twice as large as ordinary orcs, more ferocious, and several times stronger.
—You, weak! Eat you!
—Slaves! Follow!
The mutated orcs quickly expanded their dominion.
They devoured monsters and tamed those they could to use as tools.
Before long, the orcs began attacking humans passing through the mountain range.
“O-Orcs!”
“Why are there so many?!”
Their reproduction rate was insane.
To be precise, newborn orcs matured fast enough to be deployed in battle almost immediately.
“What kind of orcs are these… Aaah!”
Strong, tough, and capable of replenishing their numbers overnight.
The orcs rapidly took over the mountain range, becoming a massive burden for adventurers passing through.
“How about we take the safer route, even if it takes longer?”
“That’s probably better.”
So, travelers completely abandoned the idea of crossing the mountain range.
With humans gone, the orcs of Merbella Mountain Range grew even more rampant.
—Graaaah!
—This, ours!
The orcs became the rulers of the mountain range.
“They should’ve sent knights or something to suppress them from the start.”
Yoo Baek-jun clicked his tongue.
No matter where you go, people only act after disaster strikes.
—Growl, grumble.
—Hungry.
“Disgustingly numerous.”
The Merbella Mountain Range was literally crawling with orcs.
Their appearance was somewhat unusual.
Aside from being larger than ordinary orcs, their skin was snow-white.
‘Like the orcs of Seoraksan.’
Compared to these guys, even the orcs of Seoraksan seemed cute.
Yoo Baek-jun exhaled a white breath.
“Hmm…”
The orcs had taken over the mountain range.
Soon, they’d start attacking human villages nearby.
Of course, he planned to deal with them before that.
‘The orcs live in groups, each occupying different caves.’
In one of those caves lies the source of the anomaly in the Merbella Mountain Range.
To be precise, the magic circle that brought Yoo Baek-jun here.
Figuring out the cause of the anomaly and locating the cave where it lies is the hardest part of this gate—
‘But I already know everything.’
That didn’t apply to Yoo Baek-jun.
Since it’s such a useful magic circle, he’s memorized the geography of this area.
Naturally, he also knows the solution.
“The orcs are divided into groups, each living in different caves…”
Yoo Baek-jun smirked.
That fact was incredibly convenient.
“It’s about time to move.”
Yoo Baek-jun was perched high in a tree.
After watching below for a while, his gaze landed on a group of orcs.
—Hungry.
—Grrr, find food!
Orcs wandering around in search of prey.
Drool dripped from their mouths in anticipation of a meal.
Yoo Baek-jun observed them.
Then—
—Screech!
A flash of light shot out.
A spear imbued with lightning pierced an orc’s heart in an instant.
Yoo Baek-jun retrieved the spear and immediately leaped into the midst of the orcs.
—W-What…
—Guhk!
He swung his leg in a wide arc.
The Frozen Shattering Kick unleashed from his foot beheaded the surrounding orcs.
Yoo Baek-jun then used Frozen Soul Palm to freeze the remaining orcs solid.
—Graaah!
—C-Cold! Hurt!
He could’ve killed them much more easily if that was his goal.
The reason he froze them instead was because they still had uses.
“Hmm, these guys… must be from the western cave.”
Thud!
To be precise, their corpses looked as if they’d died cleanly.
Yoo Baek-jun killed the orcs as neatly as possible with his sword.
They were A-rank monsters, but Yoo Baek-jun was an S-rank hunter.
“And now, these dead guys…”
Yoo Baek-jun picked up a gun.
Soul Eater.
“Let’s turn them into undead.”
He had plans for them.
Yoo Baek-jun roamed the mountain range, turning numerous orcs into undead.
* * *
The Merbella Mountain Range had countless natural caves, each inhabited by groups of orcs.
—Hungry.
—Hungry, hungry.
At the entrance of one such cave, orcs stood guard.
But since the orcs had long dominated the mountain range, guarding was more of a formality.
—Boring, no fun.
—Sniff, grumble.
The orcs on guard duty openly expressed their boredom.
Some even dozed off while snoring.
—Screech…
—Huh?
Then, a sound echoed.
A beast-like roar, not too far away.
The orcs’ gazes turned toward it.
Moments later—
—Screeeech!
—Screech?!
A group of orcs burst through the snow-covered foliage.
They lunged at the dozing orc guards, biting their throats.
—Aaaah!
—W-What?! What’s happening?!
—Enemies! Huh? Same kin!
The orc guards were bewildered.
Their attackers weren’t another species—they were fellow orcs.
Taking advantage of their confusion, the attacking orcs pounced on the remaining guards.
—Graaah!
—Y-You crazy bastards!
The guards finally recognized the orcs as enemies and tried to fight back.
But before their attacks could land, the orcs suddenly turned and fled.
Running desperately without looking back.
—Chase them! Don’t let them escape!
—Huh? But those guys…
One of the orc guards scrutinized the fleeing orcs’ attire.
The knife marks engraved on their leather armor.
—They’re from the western cave!
—What?!
The orcs of the Merbella Mountain Range lived in separate caves, divided into groups.
To distinguish themselves from other groups, they marked their armor with scars—knife marks and such.
—Why would the western cave attack us?
—No idea! Chase them!
—You, report to the chief!
The orc guards hastily pursued the fleeing enemies.
The remaining guard rushed into the cave to report to the chief.
“Hmm.”
Someone was watching all this.
“No matter how big their bodies get, they’ve still got orc brains in those heads.”
Yoo Baek-jun grinned.
Hidden in the shadows, he activated Shadow Form again.
A black, ghost-like aura emerged from the Black Ghost robe and enveloped his entire body.
Whoosh!
Soon, his body fully merged with the darkness. Undetectable without special skills.
‘Now, let’s get these guys moving too.’
Yoo Baek-jun gave orders to the other orcs he’d turned.
Having subdued the nearby monsters, the orcs had become the rulers of the mountain range.
With multiple groups of similar strength and no common enemy—
‘Perfect conditions for a civil war.’
That was exactly what Yoo Baek-jun was aiming for.
“Let’s turn this place upside down.”
He smirked darkly.