Chapter 304
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 304.
While Yoo Baek-jun subdued Gerald by ambushing him, Hayden and his subordinates infiltrated the capital alongside Delowin.
“Commander!”
“You’ve… finally returned.”
The knights inside immediately welcomed him as he headed straight for the knights’ quarters.
The vice-commander, who was always composed, greeted Hayden with a trembling voice.
“You’ve endured much. There must have been no small trouble in my absence.”
“…Yes.”
Their gazes met.
As Hayden stood on the podium in the quarters, everyone gathered before him.
As if it were only natural.
“I holed up in the estate because I couldn’t stand the sight of your faces—never thought I’d see you again like this.”
A soft chuckle broke out.
Hayden smiled faintly, then quickly wiped the expression from his face.
“Wolves of the kingdom, listen.”
The knights who had been laughing straightened their postures. Hayden slowly began to speak as he looked at them.
“We have fought countless battles for the sake of the kingdom. What was the reason? It was for the peace of this land.”
Hayden gestured behind him.
A magic crystal sphere glowed, projecting an image into the air.
One showed soldiers fighting on the battlefield. And the other—
“But look. Is this the kingdom we wished to protect?”
The sight of people enjoying themselves as they looked at enslaved Demi-humans in the underground slave market.
They were none other than the nobles.
“How does enslaving the Demi-humans benefit the people? What meaning does it hold other than satisfying the greed of the nobles?”
Enslaving the Demi-humans did not change or enrich the lives of the common people.
It was solely for the nobles’ indulgence.
“Yes, only for the nobles……”
They visited slave markets accessible only to wealthy merchants and nobles, bonding over their shared interests.
They flaunted their wealth by purchasing rare Demi-humans.
“Is it truly right to invade innocent Demi-humans for the amusement of a handful of nobles and royals? And for soldiers and citizens to die because of it?”
Countless soldiers were dying in battles against the Demi-humans.
The fights against the Demi-humans took place in forests and caves—places where soldiers struggled to maneuver.
“Is this truly just?”
Did the nobles even know?
They wouldn’t care.
“Did you take up arms to invade the Demi-humans? No. It was to resist the Empire’s invasion. To protect your families.”
With the Empire embroiled in internal strife, it no longer had the strength to invade other nations.
Hayden bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, then turned away.
“Absolutely not. We did not take up arms for the nobles’ and royals’ entertainment. Everything has gone wrong.”
At that moment, the projection showed the face of the laughing king.
Hayden raised his sword.
“Now, I will set everything right.”
A blade descending upon that face.
The sword split the projection, then cleaved through the magic crystal sphere itself.
Hayden looked at his subordinates.
“Wolves, bare your fangs. Today, we tear the kingdom apart.”
The vice-commander handed Hayden the cloak he always wore in battle.
He donned it as he walked forward.
“This is a rebellion.”
And moments later—
The flames of rebellion erupted.
***
“Ugh… ugh… aah……”
The Banstein family was one of the most powerful noble houses in the kingdom.
And now, its head, Marquis Gerald Banstein, lay groaning beneath Yoo Baek-jun’s feet.
“…….”
Yoo Baek-jun waited only for the signal from above.
And then—it came.
—Human, the rebellion has begun.
Delowin’s voice.
Yoo Baek-jun dragged Gerald out with him.
Gerald had been in a private room, strictly off-limits to others.
“You there, passing by! How about this slave? Buy now!”
“The arena matches are starting! All ticket holders, please enter!”
Because of this, no one yet knew Gerald had been subdued.
Yoo Baek-jun checked the positions of the swordsmen scattered throughout the market—then,
Crack!
“GAAAHHH!”
He used Tendon-Shattering Bone Crush Technique on Gerald.
The unconscious man’s eyes flew open as he let out a horrific scream—one so loud it echoed throughout the entire slave market.
“W-what was that?!”
“That voice…!”
Everyone in the market turned toward the sound.
Feeling their gazes, Yoo Baek-jun lifted Gerald high.
“See clearly. Your master is now in my grasp.”
Knights and guards Gerald had stationed throughout the market were everywhere.
Yoo Baek-jun sneered at them.
“If you want him back, come and get him.”
“T-there! Over there!”
Knights from all directions rushed at Yoo Baek-jun.
An encirclement formed in an instant.
‘Good. This works.’
This was exactly what Yoo Baek-jun wanted.
Once he confirmed he was fully surrounded, he signaled the swordsmen.
The swordsmen waiting throughout the market began to move.
“Y-you… who are— GACK!”
“AAAAH!”
“W-what’s happening?!”
Screams erupted from all sides.
The swordsmen attacked the slavers, freeing the enslaved.
The enemies, stunned by the sudden turn, tried to stop them—but
BOOM!
“Guh—!”
There was no way.
Yoo Baek-jun stomped the ground with all his might. Lightning surged outward, striking down the surrounding enemies.
“Jeon Soo-yeon told me to just buy time, but there’s no need for that.”
A fierce, Cold aura erupted from Yoo Baek-jun’s body.
A pale pink sword formed in his grip as he channeled magic.
‘Let’s test this out.’
He clenched his fist.
The pink sword scattered into petals—then, moments later—
Swish!
“GYAAAAH!”
“T-the swords…!”
The petals transformed back into blades, slashing through the enemies.
They moved like living weapons—autonomous plum blossom swords wielded as if by will alone.
An enhanced effect of Plum Blossoms Fragrance Across Ten Miles, now that it had reached S-rank.
“Baek Jun-kyung!”
“Yes, Family Head! I’ve joined you!”
“Go ahead first!”
Baek Jun-kyung burst out from one of the market’s exits.
With Delowin, whom he had met above-ground, he headed for the arena.
“Stop them!”
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
The knights tried to block them, but Yoo Baek-jun left them no room to move.
Seizing the opening, Baek Jun-kyung and Delowin entered the arena.
Guards rushed out, but Baek Jun-kyung was faster.
“Guh—!”
Arrows shot out in an instant, piercing the guards’ heads with precision.
The two pressed onward without stopping, reaching the prison area.
“Who the hell are you?!”
“Do you need to know?”
“KEUGH—!”
It was where the Demi-humans were imprisoned.
Baek Jun-kyung eliminated the guards and sent Delowin ahead.
“I won’t be much help inside. Call if you need me.”
“…Understood.”
Delowin stepped inside.
A large room, lined with iron bars—and behind them, the Demi-humans.
Their conditions were beyond pitiful.
“Hello.”
“E-Eeek!”
The enslaved Demi-humans flinched back in terror as Delowin spoke.
Their eyes met.
“It’s alright. Calm down.”
“A-an… elf?”
Delowin used spirit magic to soothe the agitated Demi-humans.
She smiled gently.
“We’ve come to save you.”
“S-save us?”
Delowin freed all the imprisoned Demi-humans and gathered them.
Their conditions were dire.
“Endairon, lend me your aid.”
She summoned a water spirit to heal the injured.
The Demi-humans were emaciated, exhausted beyond measure.
—Ugh… aah…!
—Enemies… enemies everywhere!
“Elf girl… what in the world is happening outside…?”
A middle-aged Beastkin asked.
“Those who came to save you are fighting the enemies.”
“Save us? Who?”
“Humans….”
The Beastkin’s face hardened.
So did the expressions of the other Demi-humans.
“There are humans who harm you… but there are also those who risk their lives to save you.”
“But humans….”
“I know. You must hate them. You can’t trust them. I understand. Our forest was invaded too.”
Tears welled in Delowin’s eyes.
“I’m not asking you to forgive humans. But….”
“You’re saying we shouldn’t resent those who came to save us?”
“Yes. And… to escape this place, please follow them.”
The middle-aged Beastkin gave a bitter smile.
“I understand your words… but emotionally, it’s hard to accept. Still….”
Just then, Baek Jun-kyung returned, carrying weapons and armor.
The Beastkin reached out.
“I can trust you, who saved us. What must we do?”
Delowin clasped his hand.
“It will be difficult… but please fight once more. Not for anyone else—for your own freedom….”
“We have no choice.”
The beastkin stood.
The other Demi-humans, listening, also rose and armed themselves.
“For freedom… we will gladly fight.”
The Demi-humans joined the battle.
***
The flames of rebellion raged through the capital of the Kingdom of Baim.
The royal army was stunned by the identities of the advancing enemies.
“GYAAAH!”
“Y-you fools! Have you lost your minds?!”
“The knight order—how could they?!”
The Golden Wolf Knight Order.
Those who should have protected the kingdom were now baring their fangs.
“Stop! This is treason! If His Majesty learns of this—!”
“We’ve already resolved ourselves.”
“H-Hay— GYAAH!”
Hayden, leading the rebels, cut down the royal army’s commander.
Their blades clashed, but the commander’s sword could not hold—
The aura split him in two.
“Do not stand in my way. Unless you wish to end up like him!”
“C-Commander Hayden….”
“How are we supposed to stop that?!”
Everyone knew Hayden’s might.
The soldiers blocking him lost their will to fight and began to flee.
“…….”
At the heart of the Kingdom of Baim’s capital stood the royal palace.
And blocking the path to it—a massive iron gate.
Hayden stood before it.
“Nothing….”
Aura erupted from him.
His sword unleashed an overwhelming surge of power.
“Can't stop us now!”
A single strike.
The magically reinforced gate split in two under Hayden’s blade.
The soldiers behind the collapsing gate stared in horror.
“M-monster….”
The kingdom’s only Sword Master.
With the Falcon Knight Order gone, no one could oppose him.
“Charge! Wolves, tear through the enemy! To the palace—in one strike!”
—RAAAAH!
With a roar that shook the city, the Golden Wolf Knight Order surged forward.