Chapter 241
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 241.
Yoo Baek-jun arrived in the city.
“This is a desert city?”
Amirst was surprisingly a lush, green city.
A wide river flowing through the land, trees growing everywhere, and buildings so colorful it was hard to believe this was a desert city.
‘At first glance, anyone would doubt how this could be a desert city.’
Moreover, it was pleasantly cool here. It almost felt like being in a forest on a spring day.
“How is it? Amazing, isn’t it? When you come in from the outside, it truly feels like stepping into an oasis.”
“We don’t know much about it, but we heard the king possesses a mysterious artifact. They say this is its effect.”
It’s probably an artifact.
If Yoo Baek-jun’s memory serves him right, it’s a fairly good artifact, but he’s not particularly interested.
‘I can’t take it anyway.’
He could take it using illegal means, but the backlash would be too severe.
Since the artifact wasn’t his purpose for coming here in the first place, he lost interest.
“Well then. Here you go.”
“Thank you. Oh, it’s heavy.”
The merchants took the items Yoo Baek-jun handed over and paid him.
A hefty pouch of gold.
When he checked inside carefully, he saw it was filled to the brim with gold.
“How could we give less to our benefactor? We made sure to put in plenty.”
“And you said you don’t have a place to stay, right?”
Yoo Baek-jun nodded.
The merchants led him toward the city center. There, one particularly large and extravagant building stood out.
“You can stay here. It’s the most famous inn around. Normally, you wouldn’t even get a chance to stay here.”
“It must be expensive?”
“Heh, it is. But don’t worry. The owner here is my relative.”
“Oh……”
Connections.
“I’ve already spoken to them, so just go in and make yourself comfortable. Well then……”
“Let’s meet again next time.”
The merchants, saying they had much to do, quickly left Yoo Baek-jun behind.
Yoo Baek-jun entered the inn.
“It’s luxurious.”
“Indeed.”
—Meow.
It truly was luxurious.
The inn was high-class, and the guests’ attire reflected that.
The staff were also exceedingly kind. Even the bed was incredibly soft.
—Scratch, purr…….
“Hey, hey. Don’t extend your claws.”
Perhaps exhausted from the desert, Seol-yeong sprawled on the bed as soon as they arrived.
Yoo Baek-jun stopped it from extending its claws on the bed.
“Sigh, I didn’t expect them to give us only one room. Should I go down and ask for another?”
“I’m fine with it, Master.”
“But I’m not.”
For whatever reason, the staff had only given them one room.
Yoo Baek-jun let out a sigh.
“Actually, it might be fine. It’s not like anything will happen here anyway.”
“Nothing will happen?”
“Mhm. For now, take care of Seol-yeong. I’ll go downstairs… there’s something I need to ask.”
“Understood.”
Yoo Baek-jun left Seol-yeong in Han Seong-ah’s care and headed to the first floor of the inn.
He approached the counter, ordered a meal, and then asked a question.
“There’s a large mansion around here, right? A huge one where people aren’t allowed to approach.”
“A large mansion?”
The employee frowned slightly as if thinking, then nodded.
“Ah, yes. That’s correct. If you leave the city and head west a little, there’s a small forest. The mansion you’re looking for should be there.”
“A forest? Is the mansion the only thing there?”
“Yes, as far as I know.”
Yoo Baek-jun accepted the drink the employee handed him. It was made from local fruits and tasted quite good.
“If there’s only a mansion in that forest, the owner must be someone with considerable power, right?”
“I’m not sure. Some say it was built through a deal with His Majesty. It’s been there since long ago, so nothing is certain.”
“I see.”
“Yes. Anyway, it’s extravagantly luxurious to the point of being overwhelming. The problem is that they don’t welcome sightseers.”
And it wasn’t just that—the area around the mansion was apparently filled with traps.
Due to magic and traps, approaching wasn’t easy, and there was a risk of getting hurt.
‘Well, that doesn’t matter.’
It’s not like he’d get hurt anyway.
The important thing was whether the mansion was in the forest as he knew it or not.
Yoo Baek-jun accepted the meal the employee handed him. Before heading back upstairs—
“Ah, right.”
He spoke as if suddenly remembering.
“I heard there’s a famous casino underground in this city. Where is it?”
“Casino……”
The employee frowned.
As if just hearing the word ’casino' was unpleasant.
“Are you planning to go there?”
“I came here after hearing about it. Since I’m already here, I can’t just leave without seeing it, right?”
“…It’s not a place just anyone can enter. I believe you need an invitation—do you have one?”
Of course, he didn’t.
But Yoo Baek-jun nodded as if he did.
The employee sighed.
“I guess the person who told you about it gave you one. Well, I’ll tell you the location.”
Using a map, the employee showed Yoo Baek-jun where the casino was.
It was in a rather complicated location.
Then, with a worried tone, the employee added:
“It’d be better if you didn’t go. Many people have ruined their lives there, especially travelers like you……”
“I heard it’s highly addictive.”
“Highly?”
The employee let out a stifled laugh.
“That’s an understatement. That place… it’s not a normal casino. There’s something… something strange about it.”
“…….”
Yoo Baek-jun lightly patted the uneasy employee on the shoulder.
Then he returned to his room.
“Wow, this is delicious.”
Leaving Han Seong-ah, whose eyes widened at the taste of the drink, behind.
Yoo Baek-jun lay down on the bed.
‘I need an invitation to enter the casino. But I don’t have one.’
That meant he had to get one.
The method was simple.
“We’ll move when it gets darker, Instructor Han Seong-ah. We have a place to go.”
“Where are you planning to go?”
“The mansion.”
He had to go meet Tugwi.
* * *
A short distance from Amirst.
There was a small, artificially created forest not too far away.
And within that forest stood the mansion.
“It’s huge, Master.”
“Yeah. Ridiculously huge.”
Even from a distance, its size was overwhelming.
“Instructor Han Seong-ah, wait here.”
“Are you punishing me?”
“No, what kind of nonsense—”
Yoo Baek-jun looked exasperated.
“There will probably be people coming to intercept us. Lure them away and buy us some time.”
“Understood. Killing?”
“Forbidden. Come back here in ten minutes. I’ll summon you with teleportation.”
“Yes.”
Though it was a troublesome task, Han Seong-ah accepted the order without much complaint.
Leaving her near the forest entrance, Yoo Baek-jun tucked Seol-yeong into his arms.
“Ugh, you’re heavy. You pig.”
—Meowrrr!
Covering Seol-yeong’s mouth as it protested, Yoo Baek-jun began moving.
‘Let’s move quietly.’
Yoo Baek-jun used Shadow Form.
As the Black Ghost’s option activated, a dark specter enveloped his entire body.
His form and sound vanished.
—Whoosh!
Yoo Baek-jun moved through the forest.
As expected, the forest was filled with traps and magical devices.
But they were meaningless.
‘Probably around here……’
He already knew.
Drawing from his vast experience, Yoo Baek-jun navigated effortlessly.
The magical devices posed no obstacle to him.
—Over there!
—A woman is causing a disturbance!
There were also what appeared to be guards. Of course, they weren’t ordinary guards—likely golems.
They were distracted by Han Seong-ah, chasing only her.
Meanwhile, Yoo Baek-jun reached the mansion without any trouble.
‘It’s even bigger up close.’
Recalling the mansion’s interior layout, Yoo Baek-jun entered through the fourth floor.
Opening a window, he slipped inside.
“Phew, dusty.”
—Aww…….
The interior was covered in dust.
Yoo Baek-jun quickly moved down the hallway toward the innermost room.
—Muu…….
An empty room with nothing in it.
Long abandoned, it was filled with cobwebs and dust.
“Seol-yeong, do you sense anything?”
—Mnyaoo…….
Seol-yeong, seemingly uneasy, wrinkled its nose as it looked around the room.
Then suddenly—
—Hurk!
It released a surge of magical power.
A mystically glowing pattern. The light filled the room, and after a moment—
—Ugh! This is……!
A voice echoed from the air.
A low, gruff voice. Then, from the empty space, a faint, hazy figure began to materialize.
An old man covered in scars.
“Are you Tugwi?”
—…….
The old man frowned.
—You can see me?
“Yes. This one’s a bit special.”
—Hmph!
Seol-yeong puffed out its chest proudly and snorted loudly.
The old man stared at Seol-yeong in disbelief.
—Hah, unbelievable. I’ve wandered this mansion for so long, but I never thought someone would recognize me.
Yoo Baek-jun examined the old man’s body.
Covered in scars, there was something indistinct about him.
—Yes, I am Tugwi. To be precise, the first-generation Tugwi.
The title of Tugwi is passed down.
The first-generation Tugwi passed it to his son, who then passed it to his grandson.
The current Tugwi is the grandson.
The problem is—
“Where is the current Tugwi?”
—At the casino, that bastard!
The current Tugwi was obsessed with gambling.
The old man was furious.
—Damn that fool! How could he abandon this mansion I built with such care?!
“Well, it does seem like it’s been neglected for a while.”
—Two years! A full two years!
This mansion was built by the first-generation Tugwi—the old man.
His son inherited it, and then his grandson after him.
—Did I build this just for him to abandon it? If I’d known, I would’ve burned it down before I died!
“Now, now. Calm down.”
—Mrowr.
Seol-yeong tried to soothe the old man.
After taking a few deep breaths, the old man glanced at Yoo Baek-jun.
—So, why did you two come to this mansion? Sneaking in like thieves.
“Thieves? Well, that’s not wrong. I have a proposal for you.”
—A proposal?
The old man narrowed his eyes.
“Yes. How about I help your gambling-addicted grandson?”
—…….
The old man’s eyes widened at the unexpected offer.
—It’s not free, is it?
“Of course not. Nothing in this world is free. Everything comes at a price.”
—I’m a ghost. My body is already dead and buried underground. What could you possibly want from me?
Yoo Baek-jun pointed at the old man’s head.
“Your body is dead, but your knowledge remains. I need that knowledge.”
—Hah! My knowledge? You want the Tugwi’s techniques? Bold of you.
The old man scoffed.
—Unfortunately, these techniques aren’t for just anyone! Only those with exceptional talent can learn them.
“Is that so?”
—Yes. And most importantly, how can I guarantee that you’d even be able to defeat my useless grandson…….
Yoo Baek-jun listened quietly.
The old man, who had been observing him, suddenly widened his eyes and trembled.
—Guarantee… there’s no… need for that.
The old man stared at Yoo Baek-jun’s body. His gaze was intense, as if scrutinizing something.
—Just what… are you?
“What do you mean?”
—Where the hell did a monster like you… come from?
The old man let out a hollow laugh.
Yoo Baek-jun smiled quietly.