I Became the Successor of the Martial God Chapter 106

I Became the Successor of the Martial God

Chapter 106.  

‘It definitely felt like a warm, friendly mood just a moment ago.’

Suddenly, the atmosphere turned gloomy.

Yoo Baek-jun didn’t look at Jin Seo-yeon. He didn’t say anything rash either.

He simply stared up at the ceiling.

‘Sigh… This is the first time I’ve encountered something like this.’

It was his first time experiencing this kind of situation while following Yoo Baek-jun’s route.

Of course, it made sense—the fact that he and Jin Seo-yeon were once engaged was already a first for him.

‘Even offering empty words of comfort…’

Would be meaningless.

Jin Seo-yeon herself was well aware of her own problem—her inability to defy her father.

She probably wanted to change that herself.

‘But I can’t just say nothing.’

What would be the right thing to say?

Rummaging through his numerous playthrough experiences, he tried to recall something—anything—that might help.

Yoo Baek-jun turned his gaze toward Jin Seo-yeon.

“Just go wild for once.”

“What?”

“Act first, think later. Do what you want.”

He lightly tapped his own head.

“Don’t just follow what your head thinks is right. Listen to your heart and just go for it.”

“…Do you think Father would just let me?”

“Of course he wouldn’t. But so what?”

Jin Seo-yeon looked at him with wide eyes. He shrugged lightly.

“You’re not his puppet. If you don’t want to do something, you can say no.”

“……”

Jin Seo-yeon parted her lips as if to say something but then closed them again. The way she hesitated, fumbling with her words, was uncharacteristic of her and felt awkward.

Yoo Baek-jun waited patiently, and eventually, she spoke slowly.

“…Did you do that too?”

“Yeah, I did whatever I wanted.”

He chuckled lightly.

“And now here I am.”

—Thump!

Seol-yeong, who had been wandering around nearby, suddenly leaped into Yoo Baek-jun’s arms.

He gently stroked Seol-yeong’s head.

“The first step might be hard. But once you take it, it’ll get easier little by little.”

—Lord Jin Baek-cheon has returned.

Just then, the golems came to inform them that Jin Baek-cheon had returned to his room.

Yoo Baek-jun placed the purring Seol-yeong onto Jin Seo-yeon’s lap.

“Or, you could try it while I’m here.”

Then, he lightly patted her shoulder and stood up.

“I’ll be right beside you.”

Having someone by her side might make taking that first step feel a little easier.

Yoo Baek-jun entered the room.

“……”

Jin Seo-yeon blankly stared at his retreating figure.

* * *

Inside the room, Yoo Baek-jun explained everything that had happened so far to Jin Baek-cheon.

The events inside the World Tree, and even the fact that the World Tree intended to plant a sapling.

He didn’t mention the traitor.

“Hmm, the World Tree, you say…”

Jin Baek-cheon rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

“Planting a sapling won’t harm the World Tree here. It won’t reduce magical production or anything like that.”

“Did the World Tree itself say that?”

“Yes. In fact, it said magical production might even increase. I don’t really understand the mechanics, though.”

Truthfully, he did know the mechanics, but explaining it would be tedious, so he pretended otherwise.

Jin Baek-cheon nodded.

“Any other benefits?”

“Less frequent cleanings of the World Tree. The fairy mentioned she’d gather souls in the Demon Realm instead.”

“But that side will become more troublesome instead.”

“It’s fine. The merits outweigh the drawbacks. And there’s one more benefit that might appeal to you.”

Jin Baek-cheon tilted his head slightly, signaling him to continue.

“The number of enemies targeting the World Tree in the Magic Tower will decrease. Wasn’t that always a headache?”

“Hmm.”

There were many enemies who coveted the World Tree.

Some villainous organizations were reckless enough to attack it directly, disregarding their own lives.

Even if they weren’t villains, hunters also desired the World Tree. Its vast magical power was irresistible to any mage.

“So, you’re saying it’ll share the burden of trouble?”

“Yes.”

“That’s somewhat appealing. Hmm, but…”

Yoo Baek-jun anticipated what would come next.

“I don’t see why we should agree to this.”

As expected, that was Jin Baek-cheon’s response.

“The Magic Tower is in a position to monopolize the benefits of the World Tree. And now you’re telling us to give that up.”

“It just sort of happened that way.”

“If you want us to give up our advantages, shouldn’t you offer something in return?”

“What do you want?”

Yoo Baek-jun cut straight to the point.

He had no patience for dancing around the subject. He wanted to end this conversation quickly.

“Hmm.”

Jin Baek-cheon stared intently at Yoo Baek-jun. His gaze was unbearably heavy.

‘If the conversation has led here, then the next condition is obvious.’

This wasn’t the first time Yoo Baek-jun had discussed the World Tree with Jin Baek-cheon. He quickly ran through possible ways to persuade him.

And then—

“Engage—”

“No, that’s a bit…”

He cut Jin Baek-cheon off before the word ‘Engagement’ could escape. Yoo Baek-jun suppressed a sigh.

‘Oops.’

The fact that Yoo Baek-jun and Jin Seo-yeon had once been engaged had now created another complication.

His head was starting to hurt.

On the other hand, Jin Baek-cheon seemed puzzled.

“Why not? Not to boast, but my daughter is flawless. She’s attractive enough that no man in the world would refuse her.”

“That’s true.”

“She takes after me, you see.”

“Ah, yes…”

Who knew he’d start praising himself?

“But you keep refusing. Don’t tell me you believe in love marriages or something like that?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Neither you nor Seo-yeon are in a position to avoid marriage. You know that, right?”

He wasn’t wrong.

For those born into prestigious families, marriage was an inevitability—sooner or later.

Marriages between noble families strengthened bonds and solidified alliances.

“My stance hasn’t changed since before. An alliance through blood ties with the Sword Saint’s family is extremely appealing. It’s a shame it fell through.”

Jin Baek-cheon stared straight at Yoo Baek-jun.

Even back when Yoo Baek-jun was weak and disregarded within his own family, Jin Baek-cheon had felt the same way.

“Of course, back then, I was disappointed in Yoo Baek-jun as an individual. Still, I agreed to the engagement. What about now?”

“I have no reason to oppose it.”

“Exactly.”

“But I don’t want to.”

“Tsk, what a shame. Then let’s just forget about this whole matter—”

A bluff. Yoo Baek-jun realized he was trapped between a rock and a hard place.

The simplest solution was to accept the engagement—but he had absolutely no intention of doing so.

‘Marriage is the grave of life!’

Yoo Baek-jun quickly racked his brain for an alternative offer.

Something that would appeal to Jin Baek-cheon. Just as the perfect response, honed from countless playthroughs, was about to leave his lips—

Creak.

“…Father.”

The door opened.

Jin Seo-yeon cautiously stepped inside, hesitating as she approached Jin Baek-cheon.

Jin Baek-cheon turned his gaze toward his daughter.

“Why did you come in? I explicitly told everyone not to disturb me.”

“I have something to say.”

“……”

Something to say.

Jin Baek-cheon’s eyes widened slightly at his daughter’s words. She had always obeyed him without question—until now.

“Give me time.”

“Time?”

“Yes. I want… to choose my own marriage partner. Slowly, with time.”

Jin Baek-cheon’s expression turned cold.

“What childish nonsense. Are you throwing a tantrum?”

“No.”

“Then? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

His words were sharp.

Jin Seo-yeon’s shoulders instinctively tensed.

Memories of her father’s harsh discipline in her childhood, the things that had happened with her sisters, resurfaced.

“Haa…”

She exhaled a shaky breath.

For her, childhood memories were no different from trauma.

Scars that could not be healed

Speaking her mind to the father who had inflicted those scars was anything but easy.

“……”

Then, she felt a gaze.

Yoo Baek-jun’s gaze.

He was looking at her—silently, his lips moving slightly.

Jin Seo-yeon took a deep breath.

“I just… want to try doing things my way for once.”

She spoke firmly.

Words she would never have uttered under normal circumstances.

The act of voicing them out loud seemed to stir something in her—her cheeks flushed faintly, an uncharacteristic sight.

Her eyes met Yoo Baek-jun’s. A faint smile tugged at her lips.

“……”

Jin Baek-cheon, who had been about to reprimand her, noticed the exchange between them.

He pressed his lips together, lost in thought.

“Hoho.”

Jin Baek-cheon laughed.

“Fine. Do as you wish.”

“What?”

Jin Seo-yeon seemed surprised by his response, as if she hadn’t expected it despite her own words.

Her eyes widened.

“We’ll forget about the engagement for now. I won’t push for it unless you want it. Though if you take too long, I might change my mind.”

Jin Baek-cheon glanced between his daughter and Yoo Baek-jun.

‘Not that it’ll come to that…’

Pfft.

He chuckled lightly.

“Take the sapling. If the World Tree itself wants to go, I can’t stop it.”

“That’s different from what you said earlier.”

“Words change all the time.”

Jin Baek-cheon turned his back sharply.

“Now leave. I’d like to rest.”

A clear dismissal.

Yoo Baek-jun and Jin Seo-yeon left the room.

Alone, Jin Baek-cheon sipped his coffee and smiled.

“No need to rush things, I suppose.”

***

In truth, it wasn’t that big of a deal.

To an ordinary person, saying ‘I want to do things my way’ to one’s father might not seem like a big deal.

“Are you that happy?”

But for Jin Seo-yeon, it was different.

It was practically a historic first step. She was so elated that she even visited Yoo Baek-jun’s room in the middle of the night.

“Me? No, I’m perfectly fine.”

“Ah, yes… Of course.”

Her bright expression said otherwise.

Not only that, but a faint smile lingered on her lips. Her words and her mood clearly didn’t match.

Noticing Yoo Baek-jun’s gaze, Jin Seo-yeon deliberately hardened her expression.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No reason, just…”

Yoo Baek-jun leaned back in his chair and smirked.

“I’m glad it worked out.”

“Stop smiling like that. It’s annoying.”

“You’re extra cranky today.”

Jin Seo-yeon’s sharp retort didn’t match her true feelings—that much was obvious.

“See? It wasn’t as hard as you thought, right?”

She didn’t ask ‘what?’ in response.

Feeling Yoo Baek-jun’s gaze, Jin Seo-yeon turned her head slightly.

“…Yeah.”

“The first step is always the hardest. Once you take it, the next ones get easier.”

No reply came.

Yoo Baek-jun sank deeper into his chair.

‘Well, from now on, Jin Seo-yeon will grow through her own experiences anyway.’

Change was coming to the Magic Tower.

Jin Seo-yeon would have to face it.

If she could stand firm, she would grow immensely. If not—

“Ugh…”

She would become that nightmare of a witch.

Yoo Baek-jun shuddered. He resolved to help prevent that outcome.

“Alright, now get off my bed.”

Jin Seo-yeon was lying on Yoo Baek-jun’s bed.

Not for any strange reason—it was just because Seol-yeong was lying there.

She was half-reclined, petting the creature beside her.

“People will misunderstand if they see this. Get out.”

“Who’d think I’m here because I like you? What am I supposed to do if it won’t leave your room? Seems like it likes you the most, no matter what.”

“Not exactly good news.”

“You’re happy but won’t admit it.”

Yoo Baek-jun glared.

Jin Seo-yeon reluctantly got up from the bed.

“So petty.”

She strode briskly across the room.

Then, slowly opening the door, she stepped out—

“…Thanks.”

Her voice was barely audible.

Yoo Baek-jun smiled faintly as he lay down on his bed.