Chapter 337
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 337.
A blank, white space devoid of anything.
At its center, Overlord stood nonchalantly, with the Martial God by his side.
And behind them, Yoo Moo-hak lay asleep, engulfed in light.
"My face still stings. It’s been ages since I’ve been hit by someone."
Overlord rubbed his cheeks, remarking how sore his face felt.
"Well, now that you’ve punched an old man to your heart’s content, do you feel better?"
"Yes, very much so."
"……."
Overlord was at a loss for words.
He hadn’t expected Yoo Baek-jun to admit it so readily.
‘His tone seems a bit different.’
Overlord’s usual speech carried a somewhat frivolous air, but now he sounded like an aged immortal.
Perhaps this was his true self.
"But……."
Yoo Baek-jun blinked and turned his gaze to the Martial God beside him.
"How is this person……."
—You must be wondering why he’s here when he should be dead, right?
Yoo Baek-jun nodded.
This reunion shattered the lingering emotions he had felt just moments ago.
—My soul is dead. By now, it should be in the dimensional rift with the Lord of Rifts. There… it will disappear.
The Martial God’s soul had perished, taking the Lord of Rifts with him.
Thus, he was truly dead.
—What stands here now is merely a fragment. Even in death, there were things I needed to conclude.
"Then, once that’s done…"
—I will vanish completely.
The Martial God spoke as if it were inconsequential.
In contrast, Yoo Baek-jun’s expression grew complicated.
The Martial God wasn’t even his real ancestor—strictly speaking, they had no connection at all.
—You’re making quite the face.
"Is that so?"
—Yes. Are you grieving my death? How sentimental of you.
"That’s the first time I’ve heard that."
Amused, the Martial God let out a hearty laugh.
—You needn’t feel guilty over my death. You saw it yourself in the tower—the state I was in.
Yoo Baek-jun recalled the Martial God’s appearance when they met in the tower.
Half of his body was split apart, and what remained was in shambles.
A pitiable state, barely recognizable as human.
—I lost to the Lord of Rifts, and in that moment, I died. My soul, too, was being destroyed by him. Even if I had survived the battle…
The Martial God shook his head.
—I wouldn’t have lasted long. My soul was too damaged—I would’ve disappeared just the same.
He seemed indifferent.
There was no sorrow in his eyes at the prospect of his own death.
His death was different from mere physical demise.
"To die as a soul……."
"When a person dies, their soul journeys to the underworld. There, they either take on a special duty or are reborn as a new form of life."
Overlord answered.
"To die as a soul means being stripped of that process. No duty, no rebirth. In other words……."
—It signifies true death.
A return to nothingness—the complete erasure of an existence.
The Martial God had accepted this.
—Had it not been for you, the Lord of Rifts would not have been slain. I would’ve struggled desperately, failed, and died. I am more than satisfied with this outcome.
"...If you say so."
—Above all, I struck him down properly. Hmph!
The Martial God smiled contentedly.
The clue to killing the Lord of Rifts had been pieced together from his fragmented memories.
The key lay in swordsmanship.
—Are you curious? How I devised it.
"No, not particularly……."
—The Lord of Rifts was sealed within my body for a long time. And due to an unforeseen effect of the seal, a connection formed between us.
"……."
He had heard this countless times.
Though Yoo Baek-jun wasn’t particularly curious, the Martial God seemed eager to explain how he created that swordsmanship.
—Just as the Lord of Rifts read my memories through that connection, I too glimpsed into his. Of course, what I saw were mere fragments… but it was enough.
"So that’s how you devised the swordsmanship."
—Indeed.
The Martial God nodded.
Looking at his proud expression, he seemed less like a god and more like an ordinary grandfather.
—I had imbued the White Sword with power through Yoo Moo-hak, but I never imagined it would help in this way.
"Yoo Moo-hak……."
Yoo Baek-jun glanced at Yoo Moo-hak lying unconscious behind Overlord.
Overlord noticed his gaze.
"That’s Yoo Moo-hak’s soul."
"Is Yoo Moo-hak……."
"Dead. Can’t you tell?"
For a moment, Yoo Baek-jun was speechless.
Yoo Moo-hak had thrown himself in front of Yoo Baek-jun to protect him. And without leaving a single word, he died.
"……."
Yoo Baek-jun’s gaze at Yoo Moo-hak’s soul was deeply conflicted.
To be blunt, ‘I’ never liked Yoo Moo-hak.
‘How could I?’
Yoo Moo-hak had been indifferent to the family, offering them no affection.
Of course, there was a reason.
His humanity had eroded after countless time reversals.
—Yoo Moo-hak played a crucial role. He undertook many duties and fulfilled them faithfully.
Though Yoo Baek-jun wouldn’t know it.
It was said Yoo Moo-hak had carried out numerous tasks in the shadows under the Martial God’s orders.
‘Was that why he neglected the family?’
It wasn’t a convincing reason.
If Yoo Tae-rang had become family head, the Sword Saint’s family would’ve perished—yet Yoo Moo-hak never appeared.
—To be honest, I held little hope for the Sword Saint’s family. At first, I even considered abandoning and disposing of them.
If Yoo Baek-jun hadn’t become family head, Yoo Tae-rang would’ve taken over.
And under his leadership, the Sword Saint’s family would’ve perished.
The Martial God’s lack of faith in the family was simple.
"In the simulator, no one playing as Yoo Baek-jun survived to the end. The circumstances were too harsh."
As Overlord said.
No unique abilities, no traits or skills.
Even his stats were rock-bottom.
"Above all, the Sword Saint’s family was a place the Lord of Rifts kept a close eye on."
"Because of Yoo Moo-hak, I suppose."
—You catch on quick.
The Lord of Rifts knew Yoo Moo-hak followed the Martial God’s orders.
Naturally, he watched the Sword Saint’s family with vigilance.
—To kill the Lord of Rifts, Yoo Baek-jun was the most suitable candidate. As my descendant, he could do much.
"The problem was, no one ever completed the simulator as Yoo Baek-jun. We had to find another solution."
Listening to them, Yoo Baek-jun realized what that solution was.
"The cave."
—Correct. The cave hidden there was one solution. But another problem arose.
"We had to prepare it without the Lord of Rifts’s knowledge. So we placed it where no one could easily find it."
"...Which caused another issue, I suppose."
Overlord smiled bitterly.
"It was too well-hidden, with no proper clues. No one could find it."
—In the end, nothing changed.
Few even attempted other routes to begin with.
Who would’ve played Yoo Baek-jun’s route enough to uncover such a deliberately hidden element?
‘No one but someone like me.’
Yoo Baek-jun sighed.
His feelings were complicated.
"Luck was on our side in many ways. When I, under the Lord of Rifts’s control, summoned people from another world, had you not lied to me……."
—You might never have been dragged here. And this world would’ve perished.
"Am I supposed to be happy about that?"
—From our perspective, yes.
Not from ‘mine.’
Overlord had no choice but to summon people from another world due to his pact with Yoo Moo-hak.
That’s why he forced the chatroom members into playable characters.
‘Should I call it luck?’
‘I’ got the chance to play Yoo Baek-jun’s route.
Was that a blessing?
—Yoo Moo-hak did much to hide you from the Lord of Rifts. I understand, but don’t resent him too much.
"……."
Yoo Baek-jun stared at Yoo Moo-hak.
Throughout Heroes Road, he had only grown to despise the man.
Now, his emotions were tangled.
The person he disliked had willingly thrown away his life to protect him.
—You needn’t feel guilty. Yoo Moo-hak would be glad. By protecting you, the Lord of Rifts was slain.
"...You think so? Then that’s a relief."
Because Yoo Baek-jun killed the Lord of Rifts, Yoo Moo-hak’s countless time loops finally held meaning.
That’s why the Martial God believed he would be satisfied.
"What will happen to Yoo Moo-hak?"
"He’ll come with me. To the underworld, where he’ll help tend to the wounds left in this dimension. He once agreed to this."
Overlord nodded.
"Yoo Moo-hak has lived too long. He was weary of human life. Perhaps this will be his salvation."
"I see."
If that’s what he wanted.
After staring at Yoo Moo-hak for a long while, Yoo Baek-jun took a deep breath.
There was something he had to ask.
"Yoo Baek-jun……."
‘I’ hesitated.
"What happened to the original owner of this body when I entered?"
"He died."
"……."
Yoo Baek-jun exhaled.
He had suspected as much, but hearing it confirmed was still a shock.
"...Because I took over?"
"That’s part of it. But… Yoo Baek-jun was born with a weak soul."
Overlord explained.
—Yoo Baek-jun was sickly from childhood. Prone to illness.
"The soul affects the body. His soul was so frail it could’ve vanished anytime, making his body weak."
"You mean……."
Yoo Baek-jun understood what they were implying.
"Even if I hadn’t possessed him, Yoo Baek-jun would’ve died anyway?"
"Correct."
"……."
So he shouldn’t feel guilty. But he couldn’t help it.
"Where is Yoo Baek-jun’s soul now?"
"In the underworld. By now, he’s likely preparing for rebirth."
"Can he return to this body……?"
Overlord shook his head firmly.
"Impossible. His soul can’t withstand this body now. Forcing it would destroy him."
The current Yoo Baek-jun was strong.
Perhaps among the strongest in the world—maybe even the strongest.
Yoo Baek-jun’s soul was too weak to sustain such power.
"So even if I leave, he can’t return to this body?"
"Exactly."
"Then if I go back to my original world……."
"This body will die."
Yoo Baek-jun’s face twisted.
This was unexpected.
He had assumed Yoo Baek-jun would reclaim the body once he left.
"……."
Hearing this, Yoo Baek-jun fell into deep thought.
His mind was a mess, and he needed to sort through it to find an answer.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"Does Yoo Baek-jun know all this……."
"Yes. And he’s accepted it."
"...Can I meet him?"
"You really want to?"
"Yes."
Overlord hesitated but eventually agreed.
"I’ll arrange it. Not now, but later."
There were things he needed to say.
Not as Yoo Baek-jun, but as ‘me’—to the original owner of this body.
"Now, onto the main point."
Overlord cleared his throat.
"‘ ’, when I first summoned you, I promised to grant a wish."
He had indeed said that.
With a theatrical flourish, Overlord produced a fan from nowhere.
"Is there anything you desire? I can grant anything. But!"
"But?"
"Unlike our initial agreement, I’ll grant not just one, but as many as within my power."
Yoo Baek-jun gasped.
This was beyond generous.
"Anything?"
"Yes, anything."
"Hmm, for starters, I’d like to be filthy rich back home……."
"That’s easy. You’ve earned your reward."
"And maybe tweak my face and body……."
Yoo Baek-jun listed everything he could think of.
Overlord’s smile gradually stiffened.
"You ask for too much."
"You said anything within your power, right?"
"Well, yes, but……."
Grr.
Overlord groaned. Seeing this, Yoo Baek-jun chuckled.
"Just kidding. Well, not about the money. But… what I truly want isn’t that."
He cleared his throat.
"I want to return home. My family’s waiting."
"That goes without saying. You, and the others from the chatroom, will all be sent back."
"And."
"Hmm?"
There was more.
"I’d like a door."
"What kind of door?"
A solution Yoo Baek-jun had pondered for a long time.
He smiled faintly.
"A door that lets me travel freely between my world and this one."