Chapter 260
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 260.
The rebellion has ended.
Both Staggler and Valmir are dead, while the Black Shadows and Dante have been captured.
Jin Baek-cheon imprisoned the captives in the special dungeon of the Magic Tower.
"It’s a prison with a magic circle that drains their power. They won’t be able to do anything. Especially in their current state."
Dante had lost both arms and was covered in wounds.
The other members of Heuk young’s guild weren’t in any better condition.
In such a state, the weakening magic circle would be even more effective.
"Our family has skilled interrogators. Would it be alright to summon them?"
"Doesn’t matter. I’ll assign magic inquisitors to assist. If we interrogate them together, you’ll get the results you want faster."
There was no reason to refuse.
Yoo Baek-jun contacted the Sword Saint’s family and called for the interrogators.
There was quite a bit of necessary information, but the most crucial was the internal organizational chart.
‘Has anything changed from what I remember?’
This Magic Tower rebellion wasn’t too different from what he recalled.
However, since he couldn’t be sure where or how things might have shifted, he wanted to confirm things in advance like this.
‘If I know, I can prepare accordingly.’
Just as he had done now.
While he was dealing with the prisoners, Jin Seo-yeon was calming the chaos in the Magic Tower above ground.
"How’s public opinion?"
"Yes, Family Head. Jin Seo-yeon has been spreading the word that she had anticipated the rebellion and prepared countermeasures in advance."
Before Yoo Baek-jun stood An Song-hyuk, a member of the intelligence division, kneeling on one knee.
He reported what he had gathered.
"Public opinion doesn’t seem bad. Since there were preparations in place, casualties weren’t too severe…"
"So there were some casualties."
"Yes. The World Tree saved those in critical danger, but some deaths were unavoidable."
It was a large-scale rebellion.
Even if the numbers were small, sacrifices were inevitable.
Had they preemptively blocked the rebellion, they might have prevented it entirely, but…
‘Even for me, knowing every traitor within the Magic Tower is… a bit much.’
Rooting them out completely was an unavoidable measure.
Yoo Baek-jun let out a sigh.
"Anything else?"
"Well… the mages generally seem to think Jin Seo-yeon handled things well."
"Is that so?"
From a results-oriented perspective, Jin Seo-yeon had countered the enemies’ plans perfectly.
She had brought in the Sword Saint’s family in preparation for this incident, seized the enemy’s trump card—the golems—and personally dealt with Harun.
From the mages’ perspective…
‘A leader who takes action—that’s the impression, huh?’
It was only natural for them to see it that way.
Yoo Baek-jun smirked. Either way, it was favorable public opinion for her.
"Keep monitoring it."
"Yes. If there are any changes in public opinion, I’ll report them immediately, Family Head."
An Song-hyuk disappeared as quietly as he had arrived, like a ghost.
Yoo Baek-jun wanted to rest, but now wasn’t the time.
"Moo-jang, Chang-yeon. Sorry, but assist the Magic Tower’s people with the swordsmen. I hear there are people trapped."
—Leave it to us.
—Yes, understood, Family Head.
Due to the aftermath of the rebellion, parts of the Magic Tower had collapsed, leaving some trapped or buried under debris.
Most mages were in no state to help, their magic completely depleted.
Yoo Baek-jun ordered the swordsmen to go and assist the mages.
"...I should summon the floating island."
Using the Crystal of Dominion, Yoo Baek-jun called the floating island to the Magic Tower.
Anticipating such a situation, he had prepared the island to move at any time.
To avoid detection by enemies, it had been kept far from the Magic Tower, but it would arrive soon.
"I’ll ask the dwarves to repair the Magic Tower and the elves to heal the injured."
Yoo Baek-jun had already contacted them in advance.
Delowin readily agreed, while Bigtums attached one condition.
—I’d love some of the Magic Tower’s liquor!
"Bigtums, one of these days, you’ll collapse from alcohol poisoning…"
—Hahaha! A dwarf with alcohol poisoning? You’ve gotten funnier, lad! Dying from drinking is an honor!
Yoo Baek-jun sighed.
He had heard the Magic Tower, like the Sword Saint’s family, had its own special liquor.
‘Wait, but… I heard that’s liquor personally brewed by Jin Baek-cheon.’
Rumored to be made by Jin Baek-cheon himself as gifts for honored guests.
Yoo Baek-jun groaned.
"I’ll ask Jin Seo-yeon."
She’d figure something out.
Yoo Baek-jun casually offloaded the troublesome task onto Jin Seo-yeon.
Not that he was slacking off—he also helped with the Magic Tower’s restoration.
‘The damage is severe. It’ll take quite some time to fully recover.’
The problem was that this was the Magic Tower, home to the World Tree.
The external barrier had been heavily damaged due to the destruction of the Magic stone facilities and was now nonfunctional.
"There’ll definitely be those who seize this opportunity. Sigh…"
Villains targeting the World Tree might launch an attack.
Yoo Baek-jun decided to prepare for that possibility.
"Be careful there!"
"Are there any more Magic stones? There must be some harvested from monsters!"
Even the Magic Tower’s mages, despite their depleted Magic, did their best.
The swordsmen assisted them.
Yoo Baek-jun helped with restoration efforts late into the night, only managing to rest as the sun set.
"Ugh…"
Exhausted beyond measure, Yoo Baek-jun staggered like a zombie.
From morning battles to overseeing various tasks and restoration work, it was no wonder he was drained.
"Ah, I’m tired."
He was grateful Staggler had been fixated on the golems.
Without them, The Black Shadow would have summoned hordes of monsters, which would have been far worse.
‘I should consider this an easy ending.’
Still, exhaustion was exhaustion.
Yoo Baek-jun plopped down.
"Oof, oof… my back."
He groaned.
Having pushed himself nonstop, fatigue was inevitable.
"Just need a quick rest anywhere."
He glanced around.
He was in a quiet forest. Coincidentally, a root of the World Tree jutted out perfectly for sitting.
He leaned against it.
—Huh? Human, are you sleeping?
"Daddy’s sleeping…"
—Since when are you my dad?
The fairy tilted her head.
Having roamed the Magic Tower, she now seemed to have some free time.
"I’m tired. Go… no, wait. Hey, adjust this root a bit more."
—Hmm?
It wasn’t a difficult request.
The World Tree tilted the root Yoo Baek-jun sat on to make it more comfortable.
After a few more adjustments, it became a recliner.
"Wow, not bad."
—My roots are a bed now?!
"Ah, just this once. Wake me in two hours."
—No!
The fairy turned her head sharply, let out a ‘hmph,’ and left.
Despite her words, she raised nearby roots to make Yoo Baek-jun’s rest more comfortable.
He’d shooed off the noisy one.
Yoo Baek-jun lay back on the surprisingly comfortable root.
Closing his eyes, drowsiness washed over him, and he quickly fell asleep.
"Hey, sleeping?"
Someone spoke.
But Yoo Baek-jun was deep asleep and didn’t respond.
Had he sensed hostility, he would’ve woken immediately, but there was none.
"……"
The speaker circled around him, then stared intently at his face.
"Hmm, really asleep."
The person hesitated beside him, seemingly pondering something.
After a while…
Gently.
They carefully sat down next to him.
A light weight settled on Yoo Baek-jun’s shoulder. Rustling sounds followed, then soft breathing.
* * *
Han Seong-ah followed Yoo Baek-jun’s orders, working alongside the swordsmen.
As evening fell, she instructed the swordsmen to rest and prepared to report the progress to Yoo Baek-jun.
"Where is he?"
But Yoo Baek-jun was nowhere to be seen.
Had he gone to rest? Yet he wasn’t in the resting area either.
Han Seong-ah wandered the surface, searching for him.
"...What are you looking for?"
"Eek! M-Min Yi-jae. Please don’t appear like a ghost."
Min Yi-jae emerged from the wall like a specter.
Han Seong-ah clutched her chest.
Despite his serious appearance, he had a mischievous streak.
"I was looking for the Family Head. Do you know where he went?"
"I do… but, well."
"What’s wrong?"
Min Yi-jae scratched his cheek, seeming hesitant.
"Is it urgent…?"
"Should I not meet him for some reason?"
"No, it’s just that now might not be the best time…"
"Please take me to him."
Min Yi-jae sighed.
"Fine. Follow me…"
He led Han Seong-ah to where Yoo Baek-jun was.
The island housing the Magic Tower—specifically, a secluded forest within it. The two walked slowly through the woods, untouched by the rebellion’s flames.
"He’s here?"
"He seemed exhausted. Probably wanted to rest alone in a quiet place…"
"That’s too dangerous."
Yoo Baek-jun was the Family Head.
As the most precious figure in the family, he needed strict protection.
To be alone like this…
"Let’s hurry."
"Y-Yes."
Min Yi-jae let Han Seong-ah pull him forward.
After a while…
"...Huh?"
Something odd came into view.
Small spirits flitted about in the air, giggling.
Han Seong-ah tilted her head and pushed aside a branch blocking her view.
"Oh my."
Beyond it, a scene unfolded.
A clearing in the forest. At its center, Yoo Baek-jun slept against a massive tree root, and on his lap sat Jin Seo-yeon, eyes closed.
"Oh my, oh my— Kyaa!"
Han Seong-ah’s eyes widened, sparkling.
She stifled a scream, not wanting to wake them.
"When did their relationship progress this far…? Holding hands and everything. Oh my, kyaa!"
"Holding hands…?"
"Yes, look! Sitting on his lap, holding hands—oh my!"
Han Seong-ah’s cheeks flushed.
Watching her antics, Min Yi-jae was baffled.
"...Are we seeing different things?"
He stared at Yoo Baek-jun.
Han Seong-ah wasn’t entirely wrong.
Jin Seo-yeon was indeed sitting on Yoo Baek-jun’s lap, their hands intertwined.
The problem was…
—Kyaruru!
—Hehe, this is fun.
Spirits hovered around them.
The World Tree’s fairy giggled, using branches to adjust their positions.
‘Yoo Baek-jun and Jin Seo-yeon… That doesn’t look voluntary.’
The fairy’s prank, perhaps?
They had likely been sleeping in separate poses before the fairy and spirits rearranged them into this affectionate scene.
‘How exhausted must they be to sleep through this…?’
Min Yi-jae almost pitied them.
Han Seong-ah gushed, then nudged Min Yi-jae’s back.
"You were right. Let’s report later. They look so sweet sleeping like this."
"Uh, no, but…"
"Let’s go, now."
Min Yi-jae silently pointed at Yoo Baek-jun.
Han Seong-ah turned.
Perhaps disturbed by the noise, the two were waking up.
"……"
Yoo Baek-jun opened his eyes first.
He blinked.
"...?"
Next was Jin Seo-yeon.
She glanced at the spirits flitting around them.
—Ah, we woke them!
—Run!
The spirits and fairy vanished swiftly. Jin Seo-yeon tilted her head.
What had happened?
Still drowsy, she noticed breathing above her.
"Hmm…?"
She turned her head.
Yoo Baek-jun’s face came into view.
Unconsciously, she smiled faintly, and so did he.
But only briefly.
"...Huh?"
Both realized their current position.
Yoo Baek-jun seated on the root. Jin Seo-yeon perched on his thigh.
This pose was…
"……!"
"……!"
They scrambled apart.
Han Seong-ah sighed wistfully.
"Aah, what a shame…"
"...You’re quite the unique person, contrary to first impressions."
Min Yi-jae shook his head.