Chapter 63
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 63.
The stone monument was completely shattered.
Given that the monument was nearly the size of a house, the amount of debris was far from ordinary.
The falling chunks of rock roared as they destroyed the field.
The onlookers were utterly dumbfounded.
"D-did he just break that?"
"W-wow… Dad, that man just smashed a huge rock with his bare hands…"
"H-hey! Son!"
The man panicked and grabbed his son.
"Does that look like an ordinary man to you? Huh?"
"Then what is he?"
"A Hunter, you idiot. A Hunter…!"
No wonder he looked extraordinary from the start!
A Hunter.
And a skilled one at that.
People like him were rare in the countryside.
Back when a Gate appeared here once, the Hunters who came to raid it were unbelievably impressive.
"Whoa…"
"Ugh…"
The man watched Yoo Baek-jun with concern, while the boy stared at him with admiration.
Silence fell.
"……"
And then, moments later.
Guhk!
Yoo Baek-jun vomited blood.
"Kehek!"
"Waaah!"
"T-that man just threw up blood!"
Yoo Baek-jun steadied his wobbling body.
His condition was at its worst.
Boosting his stats for just a brief moment had an unexpectedly severe backlash.
His eyes were bloodshot, and veins bulged grotesquely all over his body.
"Huff, not yet…"
It wasn’t time to collapse yet.
Yoo Baek-jun approached the shattered monument while catching his breath.
The shattered monument lay before him, and the energy that had been sealed within it leaked out.
Then, in an instant, it flowed into Yoo Baek-jun.
―You have acquired knowledge of the past.
―Your comprehension of the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique has deepened! A new skill has been unlocked.
―You have learned the Heavenly Chain Strikes.
He had acquired the skill he’d been waiting for.
Yoo Baek-jun suppressed the urge to vomit blood again, and moments later…
"Ugh…"
He passed out on the spot.
* * *
Yoo Baek-jun opened his eyes.
Looking around, he saw an ordinary room.
The furniture and wallpaper were unlike anything seen in the Sword Saint family.
Judging by the view outside the window, it was evening.
"Ugh, uh, aah…"
Yoo Baek-jun tried to get up.
But his entire body ached as if it were about to break.
The price for boosting his stats for just a brief moment was this harsh.
Yoo Baek-jun lowered his head.
"Ha, this’ll take days to recover from."
For a while, training would have to wait—he needed to rest and recuperate.
Yoo Baek-jun opened his status window.
[Yoo Baek-jun]
Strength: B+ (31/100)
Agility: B+ (35/100)
Stamina: B+ (42/100)
Magic power: B+ (61/100)
He checked the changes.
Thanks to the elixir, all his stats had risen. However, the increase was smaller compared to before.
On the other hand, his stats would likely grow steadily for a while.
‘The elixir isn’t some omnipotent thing.’
Elixirs were effective up to a certain level, but beyond that, their effects diminished drastically.
At that point, they were little more than high-grade potions.
Just very, very good potions.
"As for skills…"
The skill he had been waiting for was in his status window.
[Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique(B, 4★)]
―A partial martial art said to have been used by ancient warriors, refined by a master of exceptional talent. Allows the use of a fist technique with devastating power.
*Heavenly Destruction: Accelerates the body by stepping into a stance, then charges at the enemy in an instant to deliver a powerful strike.
*Counter Return: Spirals a palm coated in a barrier of magic power to absorb and reflect enemy magic-based attacks.
*Heavenly Chain Strikes: Uses afterimages to unleash a barrage of strikes. Can be used against multiple enemies or focused on a single target.
Heavenly Chain Strikes.
What has been the biggest flaw of the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique? The lack of a means to attack multiple enemies.
This skill would compensate for that.
"Whew…"
Yoo Baek-jun buried himself in the bed.
The lethargy he felt was anything but ordinary.
He wanted to do nothing but rest, but…
"Young Master, are you awake?"
That wasn’t an option.
A man entered the room and checked his condition.
It was a swordsman assigned to guard him in the shadows.
"Yeah, how long was I out?"
"A full day."
Since it was evening, he thought he’d been unconscious for half a day, but it had been a full day.
"Where am I?"
"The owner of the field’s house. He insisted you rest here. We were going to take you back to the family immediately, but your condition was too poor…"
"Right, whatever. It’s not like this is something that’ll heal just by getting treated by someone."
It was a kind of internal injury.
His body had been overstrained, and his insides had taken damage. It would heal with proper rest.
"Ugh."
"Let me help you."
Yoo Baek-jun stepped outside.
After walking for a bit, he reached the field.
The field was still a mess.
A man was groaning as he cleared away the rubble.
"I ruined the field."
"Huh? Oh, you’re awake. How are you feeling? You looked like you were about to die yesterday."
"I still feel like I’m about to die."
"Haha, I bet. Don’t worry about the field—I’ll clean it up. At least that annoying monument is gone."
"But I’d still feel bad."
Yoo Baek-jun gestured behind him.
A hidden swordsman quickly stepped forward.
"I caused trouble, so compensate him with about 100 million. Hire people to clean up the area too."
"Understood, Young Master."
The man was stunned.
Though the field had been damaged, it was only the area around the monument.
But 100 million as compensation?
"W-wait, that’s too much… Really, just cleaning it up is enough—"
"Think of it as compensation for the trouble that monument must have caused you all these years."
"Ha, I should refuse gracefully, but I’m in no position to do that."
"Thank you for your kindness."
The man bowed his head in gratitude.
"The helicopter is on standby."
"Good, let’s go."
With the swordsman’s support, Yoo Baek-jun headed to where the helicopter was waiting.
On the way, he spotted a familiar kid.
"Huh…"
The kid was staring at Yoo Baek-jun with a dazed expression. It looked rather amusing.
"Hey, kid. Take care."
Yoo Baek-jun left immediately.
The man and the boy blankly watched his retreating figure.
"Wow… Feels like a typhoon just passed through."
"Y-yeah…"
It was a day when spring was just around the corner.
* * *
Yoo Baek-jun returned to the family.
Though his condition was terrible, he couldn’t afford to rest. The Great Invasion event was right around the corner.
"Instructor Han Seong-ah, how’s Ho-yeon doing?"
"Nothing unusual. No visitors, and Ho-yeon is fully focused on the interrogation, apparently."
"Good."
Yoo Baek-jun decided to keep Han Seong-ah by his side.
Among those who could protect him, she was the only one he could trust unconditionally.
"Damn, I’m swamped."
Yoo Baek-jun first sought out Yoo Moo-hak.
He needed permission to mobilize the most elite swordsmen of the Sword Saint family.
After hearing his request, Yoo Moo-hak asked,
"What do you intend to do?"
"I’m preparing for a crisis."
"A crisis? For our family?"
"No."
His eyebrow twitched.
If it wasn’t the family’s crisis, why was he stepping forward? That was likely what he wanted to ask. But—
"They say a crisis is an opportunity. I plan to use this to solidify the family further."
"Solidify the family further?"
Yoo Moo-hak chuckled quietly.
"To my ears, it sounds more like you’re trying to solidify your own position. Am I wrong?"
"You’re not wrong."
Yoo Baek-jun answered confidently.
"Well, what’s the harm? Once my brother returns, we’ll be like a candle in the wind. We need to find a way to survive before that happens."
"You’re audacious to the point of absurdity. Do as you please. I’ll assign you the swordsmen."
What Yoo Moo-hak valued most was,
—The family shall be inherited by the strongest.
At times, it even seemed like he encouraged infighting among his children.
Perhaps that was truly the case.
‘After all, he became the head of the family by fighting his own siblings in bloody battles.’
The succession battles of the Sword Saint family had always been drenched in blood.
Some died, some lived.
The last survivor would become the family head.
‘I can’t afford to die easily.’
In any case, he now had permission to use the Sword Saint family’s swordsmen as he wished.
Who should he take with him?
"Hmm, let’s head to the western mansion."
"…The western mansion? But that’s—"
"Yeah, I know."
It was where a sibling of his resided.
A mansion even larger than where he lived.
The swordsman guarding the entrance was visibly startled upon seeing him.
"Ah, Young master. What brings you here…?"
"I’m here to see a family member. Do I need to explain further?"
"N-no, of course not."
It was only natural to be surprised when someone who had never visited this mansion suddenly appeared.
"Is she inside?"
"Yes, please come in."
Yoo Baek-jun entered the mansion.
Guided by the servants, he waited briefly in a spacious room.
A faint floral scent lingered in the air.
"Hmm, macarons. Disgustingly sweet."
"……"
"Instructor Han Seong-ah, stop hesitating and have one."
"T-then just one."
Han Seong-ah, who had been hesitating, quickly snatched a macaron and ate it.
Her expression melted in delight.
Seol-yeong, who had been watching from Yoo Baek-jun’s sleeve, poked its head out as if tempted by the taste.
―Aaah.
"Not for you."
―Grrrr…
Ignoring Seol-yeong’s attempts to bite his arm, Yoo Baek-jun sipped his tea. After waiting for a while…
"……"
The person he had been waiting for entered the room.
A petite woman with short black hair.
"Yoo Min."
"…Call me Older Sister."
"We’re only a year apart. Cut the Older Sister crap."
"You used to be cute when you were younger…"
Yoo Min glared at Yoo Baek-jun with displeasure.
She sat across from him.
"…So, why are you here? It’s not like we’re close enough to meet like this."
"We might get closer from now on."
"You and me…?"
Yoo Min let out a hollow laugh.
"…Don’t tell me you’re hoping I’ll support you in the succession battle? I have no intention of getting involved."
"I’m not expecting that."
Yoo Min would survive regardless of who became the family head in the game. Because she refused to support any successor and gave up her own claim.
Though even then, when Yoo Tae-rang became head, she was eventually banished from the family.
"Small talk is tedious."
"Straight to the point? Fine. I didn’t come here for a friendly chat anyway."
Yoo Baek-jun set down his teacup.
"It’s nothing much. I just need your help."
"My help? Me?"
Yoo Min’s eyes widened, her usual blank expression breaking.
"Yeah, I’ve already gotten Father’s permission. There’s something like a Gate I want to raid in a week, and I need your help."
"…A Gate? That’s simple enough. Well, sure."
Yoo Min nodded without much hesitation.
If their father had already permitted it, she had no reason to refuse.
Besides, she was curious about her younger brother, Yoo Baek-jun.
‘Worth observing… at least once.’
Yoo Baek-jun smiled brightly.
‘She’s taken the bait.’
Even before considering her status as a successor candidate, she was one of the family’s most skilled swordsmen.
Though what awaited her was far from the simple Gate raid she imagined.
After securing Yoo Min cooperation, Yoo Baek-jun left the mansion.
‘I need to pick the other swordsmen too.’
If the Sword Saint family hadn’t been so blindly obsessed with the sword, they might have formed a balanced party.
But since only swordsmen were available, he had no choice.
‘If I become the head of the family, I’ll change everything.’
Yoo Baek-jun quickened his steps.
He needed to finish his business quickly and return to Seoul.