Chapter 306
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 306.
The rebellion was over.
The rebel forces, having broken through the castle gates, marched unhindered into the castle and captured the king, who had been attempting to flee the audience chamber.
"It's over. We've won."
A thunderous cheer erupted for Hayden, who had declared victory.
He seized the king and the nobles, imprisoning them in the underground dungeon.
"……."
Hayden stood before the throne.
His gaze, fixed on the vacant seat, was filled with complex emotions.
"I only ever thought of serving this seat—never did I imagine I would sit upon it."
As Hayden ran his hand over the gold-adorned throne, someone approached from behind.
It was the vice-commander.
"Commander, we searched for those Travelers from another world, but they're gone. It seems they’ve already returned to their own world."
"To think they left so hastily, without even allowing us to properly express our gratitude."
"Yes."
Hayden let out a bitter laugh.
"If fate wills it, we may meet again someday. All we can do is wait and hope for that day to come."
"We’ll prepare rewards for them in advance."
"Do that."
Hayden exhaled deeply and sat upon the throne. Far from plush, it was an unyieldingly hard chair.
"Whew……."
As he took his seat, the weight of the position pressed down on his shoulders anew.
Hayden closed his eyes.
"This is only the beginning."
The nobles would not stay idle.
There was a high likelihood of rebellions breaking out across various territories. On top of that, the movements of neighboring nations were also a concern.
"Still, for now……."
Listening to the soldiers' cheers, Hayden allowed himself a faint smile.
"Let us savor this victory."
* * *
Yoo Baek-jun passed through the gate Delowin had created, alongside the Demi-humans.
Just as it had been with the elves before, the gate she made had the World Tree of the Floating Island set as its exit.
"This place……."
"It feels like looking at the forests of home. The appearance is different, but the feeling is similar."
The beastkin seemed to find the environment of the Floating Island to their liking.
The other Demi-humans felt much the same.
Thanks to the World Tree of the Floating Island, they felt a sense of stability and peace.
—Kwaaang!
"Ugh!"
From among the beastkin glancing around, Seol-yeong came bounding forward.
The creature stomped the ground and, with that momentum, headbutted Yoo Baek-jun squarely in the jaw.
"If you’ve got something to say, use your words."
"Y-you’ve returned, Family head."
From a distance, Han Seong-ah came running.
She had chased after Seol-yeong, who had suddenly leapt out of her arms, but she was too late.
Yoo Baek-jun rubbed his throbbing jaw.
"Ah, Instructor Han Seong-ah. Nothing major happened while I was gone, right?"
"Yes, it was peaceful."
"That’s good to hear."
Peace.
What a beautiful word.
Han Seong-ah was slightly taken aback when she saw the Demi-humans who had appeared alongside Yoo Baek-jun.
"...Are they survivors of a defeated army?"
"I get why you’d think that, but no."
Yoo Baek-jun sighed.
"Instructor Han Seong-ah, contact the main family and summon every pharmacist and doctor you can. Delowin, you take care of the beastkin alongside the elves."
"Ah, yes."
"I’ll do that."
Fortunately, there was plenty of space on the Floating Island for the Demi-humans to stay.
Yoo Baek-jun repurposed the empty houses unused by the elves as temporary infirmaries.
"Hmm, it’s like a field hospital."
"Exactly."
The elves tended to the Demi-humans who had settled into the temporary infirmaries.
Soon after, doctors arrived and assessed the Demi-humans’s conditions.
"With this many people, we’ll need quite a lot of medicine. Will that be alright?"
"...Yes, please proceed."
The pharmacists prepared elixirs and other remedies to help the Demi-humans regain their strength.
All expenses were covered by Yoo Baek-jun.
"Thank you. I know I’ve said it many times, but……."
"Yeah, and I’ve heard it many times. Don’t worry about it and focus on recovering. And also—"
Yoo Baek-jun pointed to Ashurm’s left arm.
"We’ll get you a prosthetic."
"A prosthetic, you say?"
"Yeah. A technician will come soon. Prosthetics are quite advanced here."
In this world, prosthetics had greatly advanced due to the fusion of science and magical engineering.
Even with a prosthetic, one wouldn’t feel any discomfort and could use it as naturally as their own arm.
"There are others among the Demi-humans who’ve lost body parts. I’ll have prosthetics made for them too."
"...That’ll cost a fortune."
"I was prepared for that the moment I brought you all here."
"I see……."
Ashurm fell silent.
His eyes grew increasingly moist.
"I’d rather not see a middle-aged man cry, so hold back the tears, alright?"
"Ahem! Hmph! R-right."
Ashurm hastily wiped his eyes.
"While rotting in that hellish arena, my resentment toward humans grew. No, it was all I had."
He looked up at Yoo Baek-jun.
"...But I was wrong. Not all humans are evil. It’s just that some among them are wicked."
"I appreciate the acknowledgement."
"Well, in that spirit……."
Ashurm rummaged through his belongings. After a while, he pulled out a small, teardrop-shaped object.
"I’d like you to have this."
"A tear?"
"Yes, a national treasure of sorts. From a kingdom that fell long ago. Our ancestors discovered it while wandering its ruins."
Discovered it.
In other words, it was practically grave-robbing.
"...If it’s a national treasure, it must be valuable. Are you sure I can have it?"
"It’s just a burden to us. It’s a sealed artifact, and we’ve never found a way to break the seal. But we couldn’t sell something passed down by our ancestors either."
Ashurm smiled.
"Call it a hunch, but I think you might find a way. I’d rather you take it. Consider it payment for lodging."
"……."
Yoo Baek-jun hesitated.
Internally, he was cheering—this was the reward he’d been waiting for.
"Well, in that case."
He carefully accepted the teardrop.
Ashurm gave a satisfied smile.
‘All that effort paid off.’
After telling Ashurm to rest, Yoo Baek-jun stepped outside.
In a secluded spot, he examined the teardrop Ashurm had given him.
[Tear of the Unknown (?) ]
—A national treasure once cherished by a kingdom that fell in the distant past. It holds immense power, but its nature remains unknown due to being sealed.
The item had no name or description.
The only thing known was that it was sealed.
But Yoo Baek-jun knew what this was.
"Seol-yeong, call the fairy."
—Kyawng!
Seol-yeong, who had been rolling around beside him, summoned the fairy of the World Tree.
—Huh? You call me as soon as you get back… you! What do you want now?!
"Sharp as ever."
—Ugh, what is it this time?!
Though she complained, she didn’t refuse. Yoo Baek-jun showed her the Tear of the Unknown.
—Hmm? What’s this?
The fairy blinked.
Then, a small crack appeared in the air, and the gate’s rewards manifested.
—Huh? Wha—huh?!
One of the rewards flickered into the fairy’s grasp before glowing brightly.
An unknown force guided her hand toward the teardrop.
—W-what? What’s happening?!
—Kyawng!
As her hand touched the teardrop, a brilliant light momentarily blinded them.
When the process ended, the teardrop had transformed.
[Tear of the Spirit King (S+)]
—A tear shed by the Water Spirit King in mourning for the death of a human who sacrificed themselves for him in the distant past.
—Can be used once to summon the Water Spirit King.
An S+-grade item, no less.
The catch was that it wasn’t an equipable item but a consumable one.
‘It can summon the Water Spirit King.’
The king of water spirits.
True to his title, ordinary spirit summoners—no, most spirit summoners—never even meet a Spirit King.
They aren’t given the opportunity.
‘An item that grants a chance to meet such a Spirit King. Even if it’s one-time use.’
The implication was simple.
It offered a chance to form a contract with the Water Spirit King.
‘Probably… it won’t be too difficult.’
Yoo Baek-jun exhaled.
"Phew, I’m nervous."
—Human! What is this? What are you summoning? Huh? Huh?
—Nyaw, karrung!
The two creatures—no, the fairy and Seol-yeong, showed great interest in the Tear of the Spirit King.
"Hey, you two. If the Spirit King appears, you better help out."
—Us?
—Meow?
Without waiting for their answers, Yoo Baek-jun used the Tear of the Spirit King.
Magical power surged around them.
The moisture within the teardrop spilled out, scattering in all directions.
Splash!
Moments later, massive pillars of water erupted from the ground.
The pillars moved chaotically, converging into one before violently spinning.
—Woah!
—Kyawng!
Slam!
The sound of colliding water.
The violently spinning pillars exploded simultaneously. An immense volume of water poured down like rain.
When it all cleared, where the pillars had stood… a massive canyon had formed.
—Ah! My Floating Island!
"Since when was it yours?"
From the center of the canyon, water surged upward, gradually taking shape.
A colossal…….
—Uh, uh…….
—Kyaw, kyarung……?
Truly colossal.
"...This is too big."
An elderly man with the features of a merman, wielding a trident in one hand.
He revealed himself to the world.
‘He’s as big as a house.’
A whirlpool of water circled around the elderly man.
His sweeping gaze turned downward, fixing on Yoo Baek-jun.
—I am Eldaim, the Water Spirit King.
A deep voice.
One imbued with a divine, overwhelming majesty.
—Human, was it you who summoned me?
"Yes, it was me."
Yoo Baek-jun showed the shattered remnants of the Tear of the Spirit King.
—Hoh, this… is a nostalgic artifact. But I don’t believe I gifted it to you.
"The kingdom that received this from you has fallen. And this has been left abandoned for a long time."
—So you unearthed it.
Eldaim studied Yoo Baek-jun intently. His gaze was scrutinizing.
—You’re an interesting human.
"Me?"
—Indeed. A friend of spirits, chosen by the gods, a ruler of the dead, and destined to become a king. And your body flows with many bloodlines.
"……."
He was referring to his traits.
—For someone like you to summon me, there must be a reason…….
"Yes."
Yoo Baek-jun nodded.
"Water Spirit King Eldaim. I wish to form a contract with you."
—With me? Ho, hohoho!
Eldaim laughed uniquely. His laughter was like that of a kindly grandfather.
—Now that’s an amusing proposition. But human, you lack the qualifications of a spirit summoner. Even if we contract, you, a non-summoner, won’t be able to summon me.
"I know. That’s why this one will do it in my place."
Yoo Baek-jun pointed to the fairy.
She glanced around before pointing at herself.
—Huh? Me?
—Hohoho… a World Tree. And a young one at that.
—What? I’m not a kid!
—Ho, hohohoho!
Eldaim laughed in amusement.
—Fascinating. Truly fascinating. Normally, I wouldn’t entertain this, but I’ve taken a liking to you.
"Then……."
—Very well.
Boom!
Eldaim’s trident struck the surface of the canyon.
—Let us test whether you can summon me—and how long you can maintain it.
In short, he would test the extent of Yoo Baek-jun’s Magical power.
Fortunately, Magical power was…….
‘Now that’s a field where I’m confident.’
Yoo Baek-jun nodded.