Chapter 274
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 274.
Baek Jun-kyung was brought back to the family.
Having wandered outside for so long, it took him a while to regain his senses.
After undergoing various treatments, it wasn’t until three days later that he finally opened his eyes.
“…….”
“Are you awake now?”
Baek Jun-kyung looked around with dazed eyes. His gaze eventually landed on Yoo Baek-jun.
He blinked slowly.
“You are……”
“You know who I am, right?”
“…Are you really the person I know? Your face… seems similar, but.”
Yoo Baek-jun’s appearance had changed so much that it was confusing.
He nodded.
“It’s me, Yoo Baek-jun. A lot has changed while you were gone.”
“The Yoo Baek-jun I know?” Baek Jun-kyung let out a hollow laugh. “What the hell happened? That sickly young master.”
“He is now the family head, Baek Jun-kyung. And watch your tone. The person before you is not the same as before.”
“The Family head?”
Han Seong-ah, standing nearby, glared at Baek Jun-kyung with clear displeasure.
But Baek Jun-kyung didn’t even care.
“This is unbelievable! Wasn’t Yoo Tae-rang practically confirmed as the next family head? And now that young master is?”
“A lot has happened. I’ll explain later, but what I want to say to you is simple.”
“You want me to return to the family?”
Yoo Baek-jun nodded.
“The reason you left the family was because of Yoo Tae-rang, right? That bastard is dead. Since the reason is gone, I thought you might consider coming back.”
“Hah! Yoo Tae-rang is dead…….”
Baek Jun-kyung’s expression turned blank.
He had left the family and wandered through gates because of his conflict with Yoo Tae-rang, and now the cause of it all was dead.
And not even by his own hand, but by someone else’s.
“This feels strange. But family head, you’re mistaken about something.”
“What is it?”
“While Yoo Tae-rang was the reason I left, it wasn’t the only reason.”
“I know.”
Yoo Baek-jun cut him off and flicked his finger toward the outside.
“It’s because of your younger brother, right? The one Yoo Tae-rang imprisoned underground.”
“……!”
The door opened, and from beyond it, Baek Go-woon walked in with his eyes closed.
Baek Jun-kyung’s eyes widened.
“I rescued him during the family rebellion. Now, I let him do as he pleases.”
“As he pleases? Like exploiting his talent or……”
“No.”
Baek Go-woon answered instead, shaking his head.
“He doesn’t ask anything of me. Unlike Yoo Tae-rang……”
Yoo Tae-rang couldn’t see others’ talents, so he needed Baek Go-woon.
But Yoo Baek-jun could see them himself, and he already knew about the famous figures in the game.
Baek Go-woon’s talent wasn’t something he desperately needed.
“…….”
Baek Jun-kyung was at a loss for words.
“He’s been very accommodating to me. Lately, I’ve been learning things I couldn’t when I was younger.”
“I see……”
Baek Jun-kyung let out a long sigh.
The two began sharing what had happened while they were apart.
Yoo Baek-jun, sensing the mood, quietly left with Han Seong-ah.
“Let them have some time alone.”
“Yes.”
After they left, Baek Jun-kyung and Baek Go-woon embraced each other.
It was a reunion between brothers.
“I’ve heard they’re very close. They lost their parents young and grew up relying on each other.”
“Is that so?”
Yoo Baek-jun chuckled dryly.
“In families where the father is alive and well, the children are at each other’s throats, desperate to kill one another. How ironic.”
He turned away.
* * *
After reuniting with Baek Go-woon, Baek Jun-kyung sought out Yoo Baek-jun.
He immediately bowed deeply.
“Thank you……”
“Ah, enough, enough. That kind of thing makes me uncomfortable.”
Yoo Baek-jun waved his hand dismissively, telling him to stop.
There was something else he wanted to ask.
“You said you wandered through gates for a long time. What were you trying to gain?”
“Items, and skills.”
“Results?”
“Of course.”
Baek Jun-kyung smirked confidently and pulled an item from his pocket.
It was a massive bow.
A golden bow emblazoned with the pattern of a blazing sun.
“Hmm, mind if I take a look?”
“Sure.”
Baek Jun-kyung handed it over without hesitation. It was almost surprising how readily he did so.
‘Well, it makes sense.’
Yoo Baek-jun inspected the bow.
[Siyal (S+)]
Once, there was a king revered like the sun by his people. At first, he was benevolent, but as time passed, he became obsessed with immortality and fell into corruption.
An unsung hero, unable to bear it, led a rebellion with his followers and used this bow to slay the sun-like king.
However, the hero suffered fatal wounds in the process, and his soul and power were imbued into the bow.
Only those chosen by the bow after enduring trials can wield it.
―Options: King-Slayer, Blessed Marksman, Mystic Arrow
―Skill: Siyal
*King-Slayer: The bow’s power increases when facing stronger opponents.
*Blessed Marksman: Blessed with divine archery skills, enabling extreme long-range sniping.
*Mystic Arrow: Arrows can be controlled at will after being shot.
*Siyal: Fires a single, immensely powerful arrow.
It was a bound item, after all.
No matter what Yoo Baek-jun did, he wouldn’t be able to claim this bow for himself.
‘Unless I train in archery and get chosen by this bow or something.’
Yoo Baek-jun returned the bow.
“A useful item.”
“Originally, I planned to use this to kill Yoo Tae-rang… that bastard.”
Baek Jun-kyung growled.
“Not killing him with my own hands is my eternal regret. I should have seen him die with my own eyes.”
“Then you should’ve come sooner.”
“There were… circumstances.”
Yoo Baek-jun glanced at Yoo Jung-yeon, who happened to be nearby.
She sighed.
“He was half out of his mind, wandering around like a zombie. Groaning, ‘Ugh, ugh, ugh…’.”
“N-No, when did I ever……”
“He attacked me on sight, so dealing with him was a pain.”
The trials to obtain Siyal were harsh.
It seemed the process had left him half-mad. Fortunately, the family’s treatments restored him.
“Ahem!”
Baek Jun-kyung cleared his throat loudly.
“Let’s just say it was unavoidable for the sake of treasure.”
“Sure, sure. Anyway, I’d like you to return to the family. What do you think?”
“Hmm!”
Baek Jun-kyung stared intently at Yoo Baek-jun.
“The family is the enemy that did this to my brother. But the family head saved him and has been accommodating.”
“So it balances out?”
“I’d say it barely tips in your favor.” Baek Jun-kyung smirked. “I’ve heard you’re different from the previous family head—you care about other martial arts too. Can you entrust some disciples to me?”
“I’ll give you the instructor position. There are disciples learning archery right now. Teach them as you see fit.”
“Ho, you’re quite agreeable.”
Baek Jun-kyung was in his mid-thirties.
A bit young, but…
“If you prove your skills and achieve worthy results… I might even consider making you a Grandmaster.”
“……!”
Now it was Baek Jun-kyung’s turn to be shocked. Yoo Jung-yeon, listening nearby, was equally surprised.
“Grandmaster?”
“Hey, you know what that means, right?”
“Do you think I’m stupid?” Yoo Baek-jun shot her a look. “The family’s internal situation has changed, so we need a Grandmaster for archery too. Well, it depends on how you perform.”
“…Heh, interesting.” Baek Jun-kyung grinned. “Let’s do that.”
* * *
Baek Jun-kyung joined the family.
With his skills and gear combined, he could be considered an S-rank hunter.
And with his sniping abilities…
‘He’ll be very useful.’
Yoo Baek-jun had originally planned to handle the Baek Jun-kyung event himself but couldn’t find the time.
So, he entrusted the details to Yoo Jung-yeon and Yoo Min.
It turned out better than expected.
“Grandmaster Ja-yeon, please inform Baek Jun-kyung about the family’s archery techniques.”
“Understood. However… our archery techniques might be lacking for someone like him.”
Baek Jun-kyung’s archery was exceptional.
The family’s techniques were for trainees and instructors—somewhat insufficient for his level.
“It’s fine.”
There was a way.
The Tower of the Martial God, which had been cleared up to the 15th floor, had just opened up to the 20th.
Yoo Baek-jun planned to conquer the tower and acquire new skills.
“Family Head, I’ve arrived.”
As the conversation with Ja-yeon ended, a woman emerged from the shadows.
It was Jeon Soo-yeon.
“Is your work done?”
“Of course.”
She stood with her subordinates, smiling brightly.
Behind her, an unfamiliar young man bowed his head.
“I’ve also brought what you asked for.”
“That’s an unpleasant way to phrase it.”
“Ah, right.”
Jeon Soo-yeon laughed awkwardly and glanced at the young man.
But he didn’t seem to care at all about her words.
He likely didn’t have the energy to.
“Hey. You’re the son of the Hollow Knight’s commander, right?”
“…….”
No answer came.
Yoo Baek-jun smirked.
“Unlike your brave father, you’re quite weak.”
“……!”
At those words, the young man jerked his head up. Fire burned in his eyes.
Before the surrounding swordsmen could stop him, he lunged forward.
“Say that again… Gahk!”
His hand tried to grab Yoo Baek-jun’s collar but was far too slow.
Jeon Soo-yeon struck his leg like lightning, sending him crashing down.
“What, did I say something wrong? Compared to your father, your strength is undeniably pitiful.”
“Ghk, ugh, aaah!”
The fallen young man thrashed wildly.
But Jeon Soo-yeon held him down, leaving him powerless.
“You want revenge, don’t you?”
“……!”
His struggles stopped at those words.
The young man looked up at Yoo Baek-jun.
“I’ll help you kill Alastair in return, you’ll do as I say.”
“Do as you say?”
“Yes. Then you can get your revenge and reclaim your knight order.”
“…….”
The young man silently stared at Yoo Baek-jun.
He had heard of Yoo Baek-jun before—his reputation was widespread.
“…How can I trust you?”
“Do you have any other choice?”
“…….”
He didn’t.
The young man bit his lip in despair.
Then, after a moment…
“Fine.”
He nodded.
Yoo Baek-jun assigned a few intelligence agents to escort the young man away.
“Aside from him, we’ve also checked the other places you mentioned, Family Head.”
“How were they?”
“A mess. Not that our Sword Saint Family has room to talk, but famous families and guilds have such complicated succession issues……”
“Rebellions are easy to incite.”
Especially when someone is pushing for it.
“The Black Shadow must’ve been stirring things up. There were rebellions everywhere. We’ve gathered the survivors as you instructed.”
The Black Shadow destabilized the world’s leading families and organizations from within.
They did so in every iteration.
When their schemes succeeded, traitors rose to power, and those who once held authority were ousted.
“They’re too valuable to discard.”
Yoo Baek-jun planned to help the ousted reclaim their power.
Those in dire straits would be deeply grateful for his aid and see him as their savior.
‘I’ll weed out those who wouldn’t. They’re not worth helping.’
Knowing the Black Shadow had supporters, the more allies, the better.
Having done this many times in past playthroughs, it wasn’t particularly difficult.
“Good.”
Yoo Baek-jun took the list of survivors from Jeon Soo-yeon and began devising solutions tailored to each of their situations.
Ways to reclaim their families and guilds from the traitors.
‘I should head to the Tower of the Martial God.’
With the 20th floor now open, conquering it would give him time to think.
Time barely flowed there, after all.
Yoo Baek-jun rose from his seat.