I Became the Successor of the Martial God Chapter 101

I Became the Successor of the Martial God

Chapter 101.  

Beyond the door was a place like a vast garden.  

The trunks of the World Tree were tangled chaotically, with leaves and petals growing from them.  

And books filling the entire room.  

“…….”  

At the center stood a young man.  

White hair, likely bleached like Jin Seo-yeon’s, blue eyes, and striking features.  

Yoo Baek-jun approached him.  

“Greetings, Jin Baek-cheon.”  

He bowed.  

There was no point hiding it—this was Jin Baek-cheon, Jin Seo-yeon’s father.  

The man, who had been reading a book, slowly turned his head.  

“…….”  

Jin Baek-cheon stared at Yoo Baek-jun without a word. Meeting those blue eyes gave the unsettling feeling that he could see right through his thoughts.  

‘How old is that geezer again?’  

Jin Baek-cheon was young.  

Not in age, but in appearance. At a glance, he looked like a man in his twenties. But his actual age…  

He was well over 100.  

‘Ageless immortality.’  

One of the abilities granted by his unique ability.  

He would maintain his twenties’ appearance until death, and he would not die of old age.  

He had chosen it himself.  

‘Was it because he wanted to see the end of magic?’  

That’s why Jin Baek-cheon wasn’t exactly a reliable figure. With just that reason, he was capable of anything.  

It also made sense why Jin Seo-yeon seemed particularly vulnerable only around her father.  

Though part of it was due to the strict upbringing she received from childhood, rivaling even the Sword Saint’s family.  

‘Having a father who’s lived over 100 years and could die anytime…’  

It wouldn’t be easy to defy him.  

Yoo Baek-jun lowered his head deeply. Jin Baek-cheon, who had been silently observing him, finally spoke.  

“Interesting.”  

A short remark.  

But it carried deep intrigue.  

“I’ve heard a lot, but I didn’t expect you to change this much. This is… unexpected.”  

Yoo Baek-jun raised his head. Jin Baek-cheon was looking at him with eyes full of curiosity.  

He gestured toward the air, and the surrounding stems gathered to form a chair.  

Along with a long table.  

“Sit for now. Standing like this isn’t ideal, is it?”  

“Yes, then I’ll make myself comfortable.”  

“Jin Seo-yeon, you sit too.”  

“…Yes.”  

As Yoo Baek-jun and Jin Seo-yeon took their seats, Jin Baek-cheon flicked his fingers. A spirit appeared in the air and began brewing tea.  

‘A high-ranking spirit. Now this is luxury.’  

Seeing a high-ranking flame spirit brewing tea almost made him laugh.  

Then, a wind spirit brought out snacks from somewhere and placed them before Yoo Baek-jun.  

“I must be the only one receiving such hospitality.”  

“No, there are a few others. Though a minority, of course. Not many can seek me out directly.”  

Jin Baek-cheon took a sip of tea.  

He had been quite active externally in the past, but recently, he had left everything to Jin Seo-yeon.  

Perhaps he was considering retirement.  

‘I hope that thought continues.’  

Yoo Baek-jun recalled a few events that might occur in the Magic Tower.  

Among them, the worst-case scenario…  

‘Ugh.’  

He didn’t even want to think about it.  

Jin Baek-cheon set down his tea.  

“So, what brings my daughter’s former fiancé to the Magic Tower? I’ve heard you two have been spending a lot of time together lately…”  

“Jin Seo-yeon asked me for a favor.”  

“A favor?”  

Jin Baek-cheon looked at his daughter. She bowed her head slightly and spoke cautiously.  

“Cleaning the World Tree… a little.”  

“Ah, that. I feel like I entrusted that to you quite a while ago. You still haven’t done it?”  

“…No.”  

Jin Baek-cheon looked puzzled.  

His daughter, who usually completed tasks without delay, had inexplicably delayed this one.  

Then, it suddenly dawned on him—Yoo Baek-jun.  

“Hmm.”  

Jin Baek-cheon smiled briefly as if amused, but his expression quickly turned cold.  

“I’ve always said the master of the Magic Tower must be more composed than anyone else.”  

“…I know.”  

“This time, you let emotions sway you.”  

“…Yes.”  

“Don’t disappoint me again.”  

“…I won’t.”  

Jin Seo-yeon nodded, her face suppressing her emotions. Yoo Baek-jun simply watched.  

‘This isn’t something I should interfere with.’  

How could an outsider meddle in a conversation between father and daughter? Likewise, Jin Seo-yeon wouldn’t interfere if he were talking with Yoo Moo-hak.  

“Cleaning the World Tree is quite a hassle. The Yoo Baek-jun I knew would struggle, but…”  

Jin Baek-cheon studied Yoo Baek-jun.  

“The current Yoo Baek-jun I don’t know might handle it. So, are you willing?”  

“Yes, I owe her… I came prepared to take on any request.”  

“Hooh.”  

Jin Baek-cheon let out a small sound of admiration.  

“The World Tree needs periodic cleaning. This time, it’s been delayed, so there might be some changes inside.”  

“I’ll keep that in mind.”  

“Good.”  

“And one more thing…”  

Yoo Baek-jun glanced at Jin Seo-yeon as he spoke. Noticing his gaze, Jin Baek-cheon tilted his head.  

“Step outside for a moment.”  

Jin Seo-yeon looked puzzled but left. Now, only Jin Baek-cheon and Yoo Baek-jun remained in the room.  

Yoo Baek-jun broke the silence first.  

“I heard Song Tae-yeon has been visiting the Magic Tower lately.”  

“Yes, he’s been coming often. Bringing gifts each time, so it’s hard to refuse.”  

“I doubt those gifts were ordinary… Am I overthinking it?”  

Jin Baek-cheon tilted his head slightly. His blue eyes gleamed ominously.  

“What are you trying to say?”  

“I know Song Tae-yeon proposed an engagement with Jin Seo-yeon. And that you’re considering it.”  

“So?”  

Yoo Baek-jun shrugged.  

“Why invest in something that’s about to disappear?”  

Jin Baek-cheon didn’t respond. 

He simply stared, waiting for him to continue.  

“The Golden Lion Guild won’t last long.”  

“How can you be so sure?”  

“Song Dae-san was a tiger who dominated his era. He had visionary insight and bold decisiveness.”  

“True, I can picture his face.”  

Jin Baek-cheon had once raided gates alongside Song Dae-san. A faint smile touched his lips.  

“But his son, Song Tae-yeon, is not. Like father, like son, they say. He lacks ability but is overly ambitious and acts on emotion.”  

“Hmm.”  

“Song Dae-san will die soon. Song Tae-yeon will inherit the guild. When that happens, many of those who built the guild with Song Dae-san will be driven out.”  

Tap! 

Jin Baek-cheon set down his teacup.  

“The guild will be shaken.”  

“Yes, and I’ll be the one to do it. Song Dae-san asked me for a favor.”  

“He asked you, not his son?”  

Yoo Baek-jun nodded.  

“I don’t want to do anything that would upset you unnecessarily. And above all, what can a dog do against a tiger?”  

“You seem to like that saying.”  

Jin Baek-cheon chuckled softly.  

“Well, it’s true. Against a tiger, you need another tiger. Like you.”  

“Huh?”  

“When your engagement with Jin Seo-yeon was broken off in the past, I was deeply disappointed. I had my reservations about you personally, but I thought you two were a good match.”  

“Uh, yes.”  

The conversation was taking an odd turn. Yoo Baek-jun quickly sensed it.  

“I don’t like the idea of my daughter being tied to Song Tae-yeon. Who knows if something like this will happen again? Considering that…”  

Jin Baek-cheon’s finger pointed at Yoo Baek-jun.  

“You could just get engaged again.”  

“To whom?”  

“My daughter, Jin Seo-yeon.”  

“…Huh? It’s going that way?”  

Yoo Baek-jun’s jaw dropped.  

Uncharacteristically, he looked utterly dumbfounded.  

“How about it?”  

“I’ve never even thought about it.”  

“Really? You two seem like a good match.”  

Yoo Baek-jun responded sharply.  

“Think about it. As before, I’d be satisfied with the Sword Saint’s Family.”  

“Ah, yes…”  

“Then let’s wrap up. No more to discuss.”  

Jin Baek-cheon stood up first. As Yoo Baek-jun rose, the chair and table dissolved back into stems.  

“This was an interesting talk. I hope we can meet again. Preferably on a pleasant topic.”  

He smiled as he spoke.  

But that smile felt utterly ominous.  

* * *  

Anyway, The conversation with Jin Baek-cheon ended there.  

After telling him to think it over seriously, he kicked Yoo Baek-jun out of the room.  

“An engagement? Such an ominous suggestion.”  

Yoo Baek-jun shuddered.  

Marriage is the grave of life. Even if that weren’t the case, he had no intention of doing something like that now.  

‘Who knows what’ll happen next?’  

Many events still lay ahead.  

Some of them would make the Great invasion look like nothing, and he wasn’t even sure he could survive them.

‘Besides, originally, I…’  

And even putting that aside, the biggest issue was that he wasn’t originally from this world.  

At most, he was borrowing Yoo Baek-jun’s body.  

As if playing a game.  

‘What if I clear the game and disappear?’  

What would happen then?  

Would the original personality of Yoo Baek-jun return to this body, or would he remain trapped in this world even after clearing the game?  

‘That bastard, Supreme Overlord’  

The thought made him hate Supreme Overlord all over again.  

The one who pushed him into this world.  

‘I’m still alive.’

And for the foreseeable future.  

He had no intention of dying.  

* * *  

Yoo Baek-jun met Jin Seo-yeon, who had been waiting outside, and they descended the tower together.  

“What did you talk about?”  

“Well, just some guy talk…”  

“Guy talk?”  

A question mark seemed to float above Jin Seo-yeon’s head. Though it was just his imagination.  

“Anyway, never mind that. The World Tree cleaning, right? What exactly do I need to do?”  

“Exactly what it sounds like. You go inside and eliminate the monsters that have taken up residence in the World Tree.” 

“Monsters, huh.”  

Monsters inside the World Tree—did that make sense? But somehow, it did.  

“The World Tree generates immense magical power. That power… gives form to the souls of monsters, which run rampant.”  

“And those monsters settle inside the World Tree. With all that magical energy, of course.”  

“Right. Left unchecked, they harm the World Tree or even escape outside. So we clean it beforehand.”  

He played dumb, asking Jin Seo-yeon, but he already knew from experience.  

She thought it would be a routine cleaning. But this time was different.  

‘This World Tree cleaning will be a special event.’  

And he intended to claim the event’s reward from the World Tree.  

The location of the ‘Traces of the Martial God.’  

‘The Martial God left something with the World Tree. If I can receive that as a reward…’  

He could master the core of the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique.  

He hadn’t boasted to Grandmaster Ja-yeon about completing the Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique for nothing.  

‘With just the core, the rest is easy.’  

Yoo Baek-jun whistled as they moved.  

“Hey, lend me some magic tools, I’ll need them?”  

“Are you informing me or asking me?”  

“I’m politely asking for permission.”  

“Seems more like a notice to me.”  

Yoo Baek-jun and Jin Seo-yeon bickered as they walked.