Chapter 265
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 265.
“High Priest? How the hell does a human like you know about that?”
The lizardmen, upon hearing the order to take them to the High Priest, scowled deeply.
Their already menacing faces twisted further, making them look utterly terrifying.
“Sssss……”
The lizardman at the forefront stepped forward.
He was 1.5 times larger than the others, wielding not a spear but a uniquely shaped axe.
He was also clad in special armor, seemingly crafted from some kind of scales.
“Nonsense. You expect us to take some stranger we don’t even know to the High Priest?”
“Sssss. Turn back, human. If you proceed further, we’ll treat you as an enemy, just like the fanatics.”
The lizardmen raised their spears.
Behind them, others were preparing to use magic—or more accurately, ‘curses.’
‘Fanatics.’
The fanatics they referred to were the lizardmen guarding the temple.
Though of the same race, the lizardmen here and those at the temple were hostile toward each other.
Of course.
‘Not that the temple lizardmen are hostile by choice.’
The lizardmen advanced, spears at the ready. Small totems appeared around them, preparing to activate curses.
“…….”
It was a perilous situation where an attack could come at any moment.
But Yoo Baek-jun remained composed.
He slowly opened his mouth.
“I know a way to free your kin from the Evil dragon’s control.”
“……!”
The lizardmen froze.
They exchanged glances, then glared at Yoo Baek-jun with eyes full of distrust.
“Lies. Humans cannot be trusted. Your kind brainwashed our kin and turned them against us.”
Yoo Baek-jun knew words alone wouldn’t persuade them.
So he took out the key.
“T-that’s—”
“The temple key…!”
The lizardmen gasped in shock.
“Impossible. The temple key was lost long ago.”
“Sssss……”
They were baffled.
Unable to decide, the lizardmen flicked their tongues, exchanging uncertain looks.
Just as Yoo Baek-jun’s patience was nearing its limit—
—War Chief, is this a guest?
“Uh, yes, High Priest.”
A transparent, serpentine spirit appeared near the axe-wielding lizardman.
The serpent spoke.
—Bring them. I wish to hear what this human has to say.”
“…Sss, understood.”
The axe-wielding lizardman—referred to as the War Chief—clicked his tongue.
He clearly didn’t want to comply, but he couldn’t refuse the order.
“…Follow us, human. Sss.”
“Try anything funny, and you’re dead.”
The lizardmen lowered their spears.
Surrounding Yoo Baek-jun and his companions, they led the way forward.
Delowin observed their surroundings with interest as he followed, while Baimar stuck close behind Yoo Baek-jun.
“I-I’m not doing this because I’m scared, so don’t get the wrong idea.”
“Hoh…”
The line was so cliché that Yoo Baek-jun couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.
The lizardmen guided them through the swamp.
Using curses, they had turned the path into a maze—one that would trap anyone without knowledge of it forever.
“Here.”
The lizardmen’s dwelling was not above ground but below.
A dark cave hidden so well in the swamp that no one would ever notice it from the surface.
“Oh my, a cave in a place like this.”
“We once lived in proper places. Sss. Now, we’re stuck in caves like this.”
“No, I didn’t mean to demean—”
“I know. I just wanted to say it. I miss the old days.”
The War Chief clearly wasn’t happy about living in the cave.
The cave was vast and deep.
Inside, a relatively small number of lizardmen resided.
“Is this all?”
“Haven’t you seen the temple? Most of our kin guard it. There used to be more here, but…”
The War Chief clicked his tongue.
“They were all taken.”
With a bitter expression, he led Yoo Baek-jun and his group deeper inside.
At the very end of the cave stood a massive stone door.
The War Chief opened it.
“Enter.”
The door creaked open slowly.
Beyond it was an altar with a large statue at its center.
A white-scaled lizardman stood before the dragon-shaped statue.
“…….”
The figure, who had been praying with clasped hands, turned around.
Vivid blue eyes locked onto Yoo Baek-jun.
“I’ve heard the gist. Show me what you’ve brought.”
What he’d brought.
Yoo Baek-jun produced the temple key.
“O-oh… That jewel!”
The High Priest’s eyes widened in awe before he immediately dropped to his knees.
“The key we lost long ago! How did it end up in human hands…?”
The High Priest scrutinized the key.
It was undeniably genuine. That made it even harder to believe.
“I can scarcely believe it. We thought it was lost forever.”
“What’s so special about this key? I get that it’s the temple key, but…”
“That is…”
The High Priest moved his hands.
His motions resembled drawing a magic circle in the air. Moments later, a faint veil appeared before him.
Within it, the temple they had seen earlier came into view.
“That is the temple where we honor the Dragon Slayer. The one who freed our race from the Evil Dragon long ago.”
“Freed you?”
Delowin tilted his head.
“Huh? Weren’t lizardmen originally a race that worshipped dragons?”
“Correct. But not the Evil Dragon. That mad dragon was consumed by malice, intent on destroying the world.”
The High Priest shuddered.
“We revere not that abomination, but noble dragons—those worthy of worship.” He clenched his fist. “And we believe that by emulating them, we too can ascend to such nobility.”
“But, uh, well…”
Delowin hesitated.
She knew what she was about to say might offend the High Priest.
“…I’ve heard tales that lizardmen once aided the Evil Dragon in waging wars of invasion.”
“You speak true.”
“Really?”
Hardly a noble act.
The High Priest nodded calmly.
“The Evil Dragon possessed power. The power to dominate monsters. That power was strongest on races akin to his own.”
“Ah, I think I understand.”
“Similar reptilian traits, I suppose.”
“Reptilian! I dislike that term.”
The High Priest growled. Yoo Baek-jun raised a hand in light apology.
“Regardless, we—and other races like us—were forcibly enslaved by him. The invasion war you know of was the result.”
Countless races, under the Evil Dragon’s command, had invaded the human realm of Halpeon.
“This temple honors the one who freed us from that tyranny.”
“The Dragon Slayer.”
“Indeed. The one we revere alongside the noble dragons.”
The High Priest closed his eyes and began praying abruptly.
Yoo Baek-jun exhaled.
“Save the reverence for later. Let’s get to the point. I don’t have all day.”
“Hmm, I like your pragmatism.”
The High Priest gestured for Yoo Baek-jun and his group to sit opposite him.
“I’m unfamiliar with human customs. Our way would be to welcome guests with alcohol and fish, but…”
“Skip it. Let’s talk business. I want to go to the Dragon Slayer’s temple.”
“I thought as much.”
The High Priest nodded.
“I’m afraid it won’t be easy. The place is guarded by the Evil Dragon’s minions.”
“Lizardmen and Naga, you mean?”
“My kin, the Naga… and a group of humans guard it.”
The image of lizardmen and Naga patrolling the temple surfaced in his mind.
And the human group.
That meant the Black Shadow was here.
“Moreover, the temple is fortified with defenses. Approaching it is nearly impossible.”
“No way at all?”
Yoo Baek-jun twirled the key. The High Priest’s eyes gleamed at the sight.
“But with that key… things change. That’s no ordinary key.”
“Oh?”
“It grants full control over the temple. A sort of authority.”
“Control the temple?”
Delowin tilted her head.
“I’ll explain later. For now, just know it’s special.”
“So, how do we proceed?”
“…….”
The High Priest pondered briefly.
“First, we just need to get inside. I’ll buy you the time to enter.”
“Buy us time?”
“Yes. The Black Shadow are desperate to capture us. They know we seek to free our kin.”
That gave them an advantage.
“Our kin here will act as decoys. Meanwhile, a small group will infiltrate the temple.”
“That’ll mean heavy casualties.”
“We’re prepared.”
The High Priest’s eyes burned with resolve. It was clear no argument would sway him.
Yoo Baek-jun fell silent, and the High Priest mistook it for hesitation.
“I believe this is fate.”
The High Priest’s eyes widened.
“I must save our kin from the Evil Dragon’s control. If we don’t, we’ll relive the horrors of the invasion war.”
Being enslaved by the Evil Dragon, forced into unwanted wars.
The infamy that followed.
Neither was something the High Priest wished to endure again.
“With your help, it’s possible. Of course, it’ll be dangerous, and I’m not asking for aid without compensation.”
Thud! Thud!
The High Priest’s thick tail struck the ground.
“You didn’t come to this wasteland for nothing. And the fact that you have the key…”
He pointed at Yoo Baek-jun.
“You seek the Dragon Slayer’s treasures, don’t you?”
“Sharp. I like that.”
The Dragon Slayer’s temple held treasures—the reason Yoo Baek-jun had come here.
Yoo Baek-jun nodded.
“Correct. The Evil Dragon has returned, and his new minions—the so-called Dragonkin—have emerged.”
“I know. One of them is right here…”
The High Priest gritted his teeth.
“They’ve seized the temple, seeking a way to destroy it. We must reclaim it before then.”
He locked eyes with Yoo Baek-jun.
“Help us, and the temple’s treasures are yours.”
“Are you sure? You revere it.”
“The Evil Dragon has returned, and Dragonkin runs rampant. Under these circumstances, even the Dragon Slayer would permit it.”
Yoo Baek-jun fell into thought.
Not a bad deal. This was the outcome he’d hoped for.
But for the bigger picture he envisioned—
‘Too many lizardmen dying here would be problematic.’
More surviving lizardmen meant greater benefits.
But proceeding as planned would inevitably lead to heavy casualties.
Yoo Baek-jun sighed.
‘This’ll be troublesome.’
No other options came to mind.
He nodded.
“Very well.”
The High Priest’s face brightened.
* * *
Deep within the swamp, the temple stood silent and desolate.
Once, it bustled with praying lizardmen.
Now, that was a thing of the past.
“Is everyone assembled?”
Humans now occupied the temple in place of lizardmen.
Members of the Black Shadow.
And among them, one of their highest-ranking officers.
“Yes, Lady Fellia.”
“All are present.”
A golden-haired woman in ornate robes stood atop a high podium.
Though she took human form, small draconic wings sprouted from her back—the mark of a Dragonkin.
“Good. I’ve gathered you to share glad tidings.”
“Glad tidings…?”
Fellia smiled faintly as she surveyed the Black shadow members.
Notably, her eyes remained perpetually closed.
“I’ve discovered a means to destroy this temple. I shall now prepare it.”
“D-destroy the temple…!”
The Black shadow members buzzed with excitement. Fellia nodded, still smiling.
“Yes. As you’ve longed for, you’ll soon leave this swamp. While I dismantle the temple…”
Her gaze swept over them.
“You must hunt down the foolish races who defied our lord and went into hiding. And…”
Her eyes snapped open.
Beneath her eyelids, reptilian crimson pupils gleamed.
“Grant them the honor of serving him in the coming war.”
Fellia chuckled softly.