Chapter 294
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 294.
Nagito rejected Yoo Baek-jun's proposal to release the underground monster.
It was only natural.
If they let that thing loose, the entire Wakkanai region could disappear.
"Grrr."
But after Yoo Baek-jun's persistent persuasion, he eventually agreed to the proposal.
He clutched his forehead.
"This is insane. A monster that should remain sealed forever, and I’m the one releasing it…"
"Ah, come on. It’s not like we’re releasing it right now, and it’s not like you’re the one directly doing it."
Nagito kept grumbling, as if he couldn’t believe the current situation.
Even as they stood before the cave leading underground, he was still muttering.
"If something goes wrong… I’ll feel an overwhelming sense of guilt."
"That won’t happen. Probably."
"Probably?"
How many things in this world can be said with absolute certainty?
There’s always the possibility of unforeseen events.
But in the case of this underground monster, leaving it sealed also poses a problem.
"Well, we’ll find out once we go down."
"Sigh…"
The group stepped into the cave.
A cave where not even an inch ahead was visible. Yoo Baek-jun felt his breath growing stifled.
"Family head, this place… feels strange."
"Is it hard to breathe?"
Nagito answered instead of Han Seong-ah. She nodded.
"It’s because of the poison. The sealed monster has deadly venom."
"Ah, so that’s why…"
Before descending, Nagito had given the group some medicine.
A potion that increased resistance to poison.
"Yes, that should help you endure. But this… hmm."
Nagito looked around and tilted his head in confusion.
"This is odd. There shouldn’t be this much poison here."
"……"
Feeling that something was off, Nagito headed deeper underground.
Down one level, then another. The deeper they went, the more potent the poison became.
"This is strange… at this level…"
"Hey, what kind of monster is sealed down here?"
"Huh? Ah, right."
Nagito, who had been lost in thought, turned to look back.
"It’s a monster with eight heads and tails. No matter how many heads you cut off, they regrow. And it spews deadly poison."
"Just hearing about it sounds troublesome."
"Right. Even sealed, this much poison is leaking out. That’s why ordinary methods can’t maintain the seal here…"
In the underground cave, white, ghost-like entities wandered about.
"We’re maintaining the seal with the help of spirits. They’re summoned using a unique innate ability."
Just like Jin Seo-yeon of the Magic Tower.
In Japan, there are families that inherit unique innate abilities.
One such family has been maintaining and repairing the seal here.
"The poison is getting stronger."
"Are we still far?"
"No, we’re almost there."
After walking down for a long time, Yoo Baek-jun finally reached the destination.
A shrine deep underground.
At the innermost altar, there was a jar sealing the monster.
"Talismans."
The surface of the jar was covered in various talismans.
And the ground around it…
"This can’t be."
Was completely rotting.
Nagito cautiously approached the jar to inspect the seal.
"The seal is intact. But…"
Nagito frowned deeply as he looked around.
"This poison is leaking out despite the seal."
The underground was rotting.
The vile energy and poison emitted by the sealed monster were corrupting the surroundings.
The bigger problem was that the affected area was gradually expanding.
"If we leave it like this, it’ll affect the surface. The Wakkanai region will become uninhabitable."
Nagito let out a sigh.
"Now that I think about it, the guild members managing this area were also connected to Toma."
"They must’ve neglected their duties."
"Yes, even after seeing this."
Had they known about this situation earlier, they would’ve taken action sooner.
Nagito clutched his forehead.
"Now I understand why you proposed releasing the seal."
There’s also the option of resealing it.
But to eliminate the root problem, the sealed monster must be destroyed.
Otherwise, similar incidents will keep recurring across generations.
"I’ve heard your plan, but I’m still hesitant. I don’t know whether to trust it or not."
Nagito let out a deep sigh.
"Let’s just try it. The successor of the family responsible for this seal is my childhood friend. They’ll listen if I ask."
He ultimately accepted Yoo Baek-jun’s proposal, though he still seemed uneasy.
"Once the work you mentioned is done, I’ll contact the Sword Saint family."
"Good."
Regardless, he’s closer to being a hero. There’s no way he’d ignore such a situation.
‘Should I say he has a strong sense of responsibility?’
Yoo Baek-jun seized the opportunity.
Since Wakkanai was currently under the management of the Mikazuki Guild,
A major incident here would also damage their reputation.
‘On the other hand, dealing with that troublesome monster will help our standing.’
Yoo Baek-jun hummed to himself.
As they left the poison-filled underground, Nagito asked him,
"...When should we release the seal? There’s a lot to prepare."
"Roughly a month. I’ll inform you of the exact timing later."
Releasing the seal will cause massive repercussions and inflict significant damage on Wakkanai.
To minimize that, preparations are necessary. Nagito’s ‘things to prepare‘ referred to that.
"Understood."
Nagito nodded.
* * *
The business in Wakkanai was done.
Nagito said he’d handle matters related to Toma himself.
He’d probably chase down the escaped Toma and deal with him personally.
‘In this world, siblings never seem to get along.’
The Sword Saint family is like that, and so is Mikazuki. Given what’s at stake, it’s understandable, but…
"Ugh."
Yoo Baek-jun sighed as he reviewed reports from the family.
Several events had occurred during his stay in Wakkanai.
"Hmm, support for the Hollow Knights… A rebellion in China’s Sichuan Tang Family? We’re rescuing their successor and providing support there too."
Things were progressing smoothly.
As he mechanically read through the reports, Yoo Baek-jun’s eyes stopped at one sentence.
―The Sword Saint family’s branch is moving.
An unsettling sentence.
‘The branch family…’
The Sword Saint family has a branch.
A branch established by Yoo Moo-hak’s younger sister.
She harbors deep-seated hatred for her older brother.
‘Well, it’s only natural.’
That survival-of-the-fittest, only-the-strongest-survive mentality.
During the succession dispute, Yoo Moo-hak indiscriminately slaughtered his own kin.
Only one person survived by abandoning everything and begging for her life.
‘Yoo Chae-jeong.’
Yoo Moo-hak spared her life but exiled her from the family.
Cast out, Yoo Chae-jeong started from scratch and eventually established a respectable household.
"Hmm, she’s a troublesome one."
Yoo Chae-jeong despises the Sword Saint family to a terrifying degree. She hates Yoo Moo-hak so much she wants him dead.
But to her, Yoo Moo-hak was always an insurmountable wall, so she couldn’t make any moves while he was alive.
"Does she think it’s time now? Or is she underestimating us…"
Yoo Baek-jun smirked bitterly.
If she’s underestimating them, they’ll just have to prove her wrong.
He ordered the intelligence division to investigate Yoo Chae-jeong’s schedule.
"I want to meet her in person. Preferably without our dear aunt knowing."
―We’ll arrange it.
The intelligence division was fiercely loyal to Yoo Baek-jun, so they’d comply.
Among the other notable reports was one about Jeju Island.
‘The doping effect is remarkable.’
The various martial arts techniques Yoo Baek-jun obtained from the Tower of the Martial God—trainees who learned them were active on Jeju Island.
And their performance was outstanding.
―The Jeju branch of the Sword Saint family has been clearing a significant number of Gates appearing on Jeju Island recently. The Jeju side wants to present a commendation…
The Statue of Growth and the Magic Training Circle.
Thanks to their effects, the disciples had grown rapidly.
"They can be used as combat forces."
Until now, he’d held off, thinking they were still lacking.
But at this level, deploying them as full-fledged forces seemed viable.
"Good, the family’s running smoothly."
Once they deal with the branch family led by Yoo Chae-jeong, there’ll be no more issues.
Yoo Baek-jun sighed.
‘Either offer her a tempting carrot or crush her mercilessly.’
And utterly humiliate her in the process.
Yoo Baek-jun pondered the methods, and then a thunderbird cried.
―Kaaaah!
"Are we here?"
Yoo Baek-jun’s destination was the suspected headquarters of the Black Shadow.
To be precise, the presumed location of their headquarters.
The thunderbird slowly descended.
"Good work."
"Ugh, ugh…"
―Kaaaah!
The thunderbird let out a long cry before disappearing.
Han Seong-ah, who had been trembling atop it, staggered down.
"Family head, next time, please ride alone if possible."
"Why? Do you have a fear of heights or something?"
"I-I didn’t before… but I might develop one now. That bird’s ride quality is the absolute worst."
Han Seong-ah swayed unsteadily.
Jeon Soo-yeon had said something similar before—apparently, the thunderbird’s ride was notoriously bad.
"Alright, let’s walk for now."
"I’ll use an item."
They had arrived far from their destination.
Though there were no obvious barriers, the Black Shadow might be watching.
There’s no benefit in alerting them to their presence.
Whoosh!
A faint mist-like substance enveloped Yoo Baek-jun and Han Seong-ah.
An item with weak stealth effects but capable of disrupting perception.
"There should be a lake ahead. Let’s head there. As quietly as possible."
"Yes, Family head."
Yoo Baek-jun began walking.
When the time comes, the Thunder God will naturally release Thanatos’s seal.
To ensure he doesn’t find it suspicious when Thanatos crosses over to Earth.
‘There’s something to do before that.’
After walking through the quiet forest for a while, Yoo Baek-jun reached a lake.
A lake so vast it elicited admiration.
"Family head, what are you planning to do here? And so secretly…"
"Lure someone."
"Lure… someone?"
Han Seong-ah tilted her head in confusion.
His reason for coming here was simple: to guide Thanatos’s descent to a desired location.
"Hmm, let’s see…"
Yoo Baek-jun used a communication item he’d used before.
After a few vibrations, a hologram-like figure appeared before him.
―What is it?
"Do some work."
―……?
It was Jin Seo-yeon.
She looked at Yoo Baek-jun with a tired expression, then tilted her head.
―I work every day, you know?
Jin Seo-yeon had been working nonstop to restore the Magic Tower.
Yoo Baek-jun knew this well, but her help was essential for this task.
―Sigh, so…
Jin Seo-yeon looked around.
Thanks to improvements in the communication magic item, she could now see the surroundings of the other party.
―You want Thanatos to descend here, is that it?
"Yep."
Jin Seo-yeon sighed.
She couldn’t help but think he made such a troublesome request sound so simple.