Chapter 264
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 264.
[Temple Key (Artifact)]
―A key that can be used in a shrine dedicated to a special being.
―Though it’s called a key, its appearance is closer to that of a small gem.
What Yoo Baek-jun obtained was the key.
Unlike other artifacts, it had no special effects. Its only function was that it could be used as a key.
But that was enough.
“Interrogating Dante will take quite a while, and the restoration work on the Magic Tower won’t be affected much even if I’m not there.”
It was the perfect time to move.
“Shall I go cause some trouble?”
Returning to the Magic Tower in an instant via the Thunderbird, Yoo Baek-jun roamed around.
Many people were bustling about.
Moo-jang, Chang-yeon, and the swordsmen, including Han Seong-ah, were so busy they barely had time to breathe.
“Instructor Han Seong-ah, are you very busy?”
“Yes, Family head. There’s a lot to move, so it’s a bit hectic. The mages need to conserve their magic.”
The swordsmen were transporting construction materials for the dwarves.
Under normal circumstances, magic would have solved everything in an instant, but now there were too many places requiring magic, making it difficult.
“Hmm, in that case…”
As Yoo Baek-jun glanced around, his eyes landed on the elves.
Elves healing people.
But now that the healing was mostly done, they seemed idle.
“Delowin.”
“Ah, Human!”
Delowin’s ears perked up. She was with her younger brother, Baimar.
The boy gave a slight nod.
“What are you doing?”
“We finished healing everyone here, so we were just looking around the forest. They said it was fine, so we thought we’d help…”
“Let’s just go inside and rest, Sister.”
Baimar seemed tired, eager to go inside and rest.
‘Not a chance. Where do you think you’re going?’
Yoo Baek-jun grabbed the boy’s shoulder.
“W-what’s this about?”
“You both look free. Why not come with me and do some work?”
“Work? What kind of work?”
Unlike Baimar, Delowin seemed eager.
Yoo Baek-jun unfolded his fingers.
“A Temple expedition.”
“…Huh?”
Delowin tilted her head in confusion.
* * *
Monsters serve dragons.
To be precise, dragons forcibly subjugate monsters with their overwhelming dominance.
Dragons rule over monsters and use them as subordinates.
“The Evil Dragon? Wow, that’s a name I heard in fairy tales before.”
“The Evil Dragon? Does it really exist?”
The Evil Dragon was no exception.
In this world, many races have crossed over from other dimensions, and among them are races classified as monsters.
One of them was the Lizardmen.
“Lizardmen! That evil race?”
Delowin’s ears twitched.
“Sister, why are they evil?”
“They joined the Evil Dragon when it invaded Halpeon, remember? Huh? Did I not read you that fairy tale?”
“I don’t know. I don’t remember.”
Long ago, the Evil Dragon had invaded Halpeon.
The result? Of course, it failed.
Some hero appeared and, along with comrades, defeated it or something.
“Right?”
“That’s what the fairy tales say. But, um… I think the village grandmother said fairy tales are just fairy tales.”
After all, stories passed down orally could be distorted.
In any case, the Evil Dragon failed in its invasion and barely escaped with its life.
And now, it lies hidden in its own lair, in a place no one can reach, waiting for an opportunity…
“Well, that’s what they say.”
“Wow, Human. You really know Halpeon’s history well. That’s amazing.”
“Yeah, how do you know all this?”
Baimar and Delowin tilted their heads in unison, as if they’d planned it.
Seol-yeong, nestled in Yoo Baek-jun’s arms, also tilted its head along with them.
“I know a lot of things. Anyway, the reason I’m telling you this…”
Yoo Baek-jun raised his head.
His eyes took in an impossibly vast swamp.
This was one of the small Western nations that had been completely destroyed during the Gate incident long ago.
‘As a result, it became a paradise for monsters.’
One such place was this dense swamp, where Yoo Baek-jun had arrived.
“In this swamp, there are races that once followed the Evil Dragon. And they still follow it now.”
“Like the Lizardmen?”
“Them and others.”
Yoo Baek-jun looked ahead.
“While we’re attacking the temple, let’s deal with them too.”
“Kill them?”
“Well.”
If the situation turns unfavorable, killing might be necessary, but he’d prefer to spare them if possible.
“I don’t think they’re following the Evil Dragon willingly, so if luck is on our side…”
“Huh? Wait a minute. If they’re still following the Evil Dragon now, then, um…?”
Delowin’s mouth hung open.
‘Come to think of it, I haven’t told people about the Evil Dragon yet.’
He’d have to do that when the time was right.
Yoo Baek-jun hid himself as much as possible.
The surroundings were an endless swamp—the worst environment for movement.
“Delowin, Baimar. Spirits.”
“So this is why you brought us along… to use us like this… Earthworm.”
“Undine, will you help us?”
The spirits summoned by Delowin and Baimar exerted their power.
The murky water beneath their feet cleared, and the earthworm flattened the swamp below to make movement easier.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Yoo Baek-jun advanced through the swamp.
The eerily quiet swamp felt devoid of life.
“The spirits are warning us.”
But that wasn’t the case.
“They say there are hunters all around…”
As Yoo Baek-jun silently pressed forward, he suddenly stopped upon hearing Delowin’s warning.
He glanced around, then grabbed Delowin and Baimar and swiftly climbed a tree.
“Gasp! What was that for…?!”
“Be quiet.”
Yoo Baek-jun silenced Baimar and glared below.
A moment later.
―Sssss…
―I definitely heard water…
Creatures revealed themselves.
Thick, steel-like scales, bodies larger and more muscular than humans.
And faces resembling crocodiles.
Monsters that looked like a fusion of humans and crocodiles.
“Lizardmen.”
“I know. Attach the spirits.”
“Huh? Oh, yes.”
They were Lizardmen.
The creatures moved through the swamp as if it were flat ground, scanning their surroundings.
The swamp was treacherous terrain, but their webbed feet made it no obstacle.
―No one’s here.
―Must have misheard.
―Hmm, the spirits are quiet too.
―Thought there were traitors around.
The Lizardmen conversed among themselves before retreating the way they came.
Baimar, seeing them leave, tried to climb down immediately, but Yoo Baek-jun stopped him.
“What’s the problem, human?”
“Look there.”
Yoo Baek-jun pointed across the swamp.
From the opposite direction of the Lizardmen’s departure, another creature emerged.
―…….
―…….
Monsters with humanoid upper bodies and massive serpentine lower bodies.
Their most peculiar feature was their multiple arms, and both their upper and lower halves were covered in armor-like scales.
“Naga. Wow, this is fascinating. I thought they were extinct.”
A race only found in historical records from Halpeon.
Once active but now unseen—until now.
―…….
The Naga silently surveyed their surroundings before diving back into the swamp.
They disappeared swiftly.
“They’re a very quiet race.”
“They communicate telepathically. Like mind-talk.”
“Telepathy?”
Delowin tilted her head, looking confused.
But there was no time to explain.
“Let’s follow the Lizardmen.”
“Yes, they went that way.”
Yoo Baek-jun trailed the Lizardmen using the spirits he’d attached earlier.
They were heading deep into the swamp’s heart—the very center.
‘It’s dark.’
The deeper they went, the darker the swamp became.
Yoo Baek-jun expanded his senses, staying alert as he advanced.
After some time…
“There…”
“Wow, this is…”
An open space appeared.
The very center of the vast swamp—an eerily dense thicket and water deep enough to reach one’s chest.
And in the middle stood a building.
‘The shrine.’
A shrine weathered and broken, bearing the marks of time.
Around it were structures resembling Lizardmen dwellings—hut-like buildings.
“This must be their village.”
“More like…”
They were guarding the shrine.
Ensuring no one could approach, killing any intruders who dared.
‘Their eye colors are messed up.’
Their crimson eyes, tainted with dark energy, made it clear the Lizardmen were far from normal.
“The defenses… are tight?”
“Human, are you planning to go in there?”
“You’ll die if you do.”
“Even for you, Human…”
The two elves chattered incessantly on either side.
Yoo Baek-jun sighed.
“That’s the target, but I’m not planning a frontal assault.”
“Then…? Is there another way?”
“There is. First, let’s leave a marker.”
Yoo Baek-jun left a marker nearby to avoid getting lost.
Then he surveyed the surroundings.
“Remember what the Lizardmen said earlier? About traitors.”
“Did they?”
“Ah, I think they did.”
Yoo Baek-jun took out a compass.
With no proper map, navigating here wasn’t easy.
“We’re going to find those traitors.”
For now, they’d have to rely on memory.
* * *
Yoo Baek-jun left the shrine’s vicinity.
Relying on his memory, he began navigating the swamp.
“…You do know the way, right?”
“No idea.”
“Isn’t that too bold?”
This swamp was too complex to memorize entirely.
So he’d only noted key directions and landmarks.
‘This tree… this way means it’s here.’
Yoo Baek-jun strode forward confidently.
Baimar clicked his tongue.
“You’re just walking blindly, aren’t you?”
“No, Baimar. It looks to me like… he knows the way?”
Yoo Baek-jun’s steps were unwavering, as if he did.
Baimar grumbled while Delowin quietly followed.
“…….”
Suddenly, Yoo Baek-jun stopped.
“What, lost your way?”
Yoo Baek-jun didn’t answer. Baimar tsked.
“Fine. I’ll use the spirits to find the way—”
“Hey, don’t move.”
“Why not? I’ll just—”
Yoo Baek-jun blocked Baimar with his right arm.
A sharp wind whistled past where Baimar had been about to step.
Whoosh!
“Huh?”
Baimar’s eyes widened. He turned around dumbfounded.
A long spear had impaled the tree behind him with perfect precision.
Had Yoo Baek-jun not stopped him, it would have pierced his skull.
“Gah! Wh-what was that?!”
“I told you not to move.”
Baimar scrambled behind Yoo Baek-jun.
Yoo Baek-jun glared around—specifically, beneath the water.
‘I see them.’
Shadowy figures moved beneath the surface.
Yoo Baek-jun raised his sword, infused with magic, and slammed it into the ground.
Boom!
“Guh?!”
The magic took the form of a dragon, striking the earth and triggering a tremor.
The water churned violently, forcing the shadows beneath to surface.
“Ugh!”
“Tch! Damn bastards, what are you doing?!”
The figures hiding underwater were finally revealed.
“Lizardmen?”
But these were different from the ones near the shrine.
Their eyes were green.
“This is our territory!”
“Human, what are you after? Did those fanatics send you?!”
Dozens of Lizardmen emerged from all sides.
Not a small number.
Baimar and Delowin tensed behind Yoo Baek-jun.
“Take me to your high priest.”
In the tense standoff, Yoo Baek-jun calmly pointed his sword and spoke.