I Became the Successor of the Martial God Chapter 111

I Became the Successor of the Martial God

Chapter 111.  

“What?”  

In the audience chamber of the Sword Saint’s family.  

Yoo Moo-hak, who rarely showed surprise, asked again in disbelief.  

Standing before him was Yoo Baek-jun.  

“I’ve recruited Yoon Song-ha and Min Yi-jae.”  

“Those two?”  

“Young Master, is that true?”  

Jeon Dae-kwon, standing beside Yoo Moo-hak, was astonished.  

It was an unbelievable story. 

Putting aside the fact that he had recruited Ranker hunters, the fact that the hunters they recruited were none other than Yoon Song-ha and Min Yi-jae was beyond comprehension.  

“Yes, it’s true.”  

“What? Why would those two come to the Sword Saint’s family? Yoon Song-ha is a woman who swore to bury her bones with the Golden Lion Guild, and Min Yi-jae has refused countless guild offers until now!”  

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. For people like that to join the Sword Saint’s family… the world truly is unpredictable.”  

“Are you mocking me right now?!” Jeon Dae-kwon raised his voice in anger.  

‘Ah, that bastard’s tone…’  

He was skillfully mixing formal and informal speech.  

If one were to discuss the hierarchy between a grandmaster and the family’s successor, the successor would naturally hold the higher position.  

So such speech should never be permitted.  

‘And yet, he dares to speak like that…’  

It meant Jeon Dae-kwon was deeply flustered.  

It also meant he still saw Yoo Baek-jun as the weakling of the past and looked down on him.  

Naturally, Yoo Baek-jun had no intention of letting it slide.  

“I don’t understand, Grandmaster.”  

“What?”  

“I’ve recruited talent that isn’t easily obtainable. For the future of the Sword Saint’s family.”  

Yoo Baek-jun’s gaze turned cold.  

“Right now, what you should be doing isn’t scolding me, but praising me.”  

“……!”  

A chilling aura emanated from him.  

The attendants observing the situation felt as if the audience chamber had frozen over in an instant.  

That was how cold it was.  

“Am I wrong?”  

“Th-that’s…” Jeon Dae-kwon stammered.  

But Yoo Baek-jun wasn’t finished. “And Grandmaster Jeon Dae-kwon. Before you speak, think carefully about who you’re talking to… I’d appreciate it if you kept that in mind.”  

“Ugh…”  

It was a warning.  

Realizing his mistake belatedly, Jeon Dae-kwon let out a stifled groan.  

“Enough. That’s far enough.” Yoo Moo-hak intervened to settle the situation.  

What he wanted to hear wasn’t a power struggle between Jeon Dae-kwon and Yoo Baek-jun, but a detailed report.  

“So, what are your plans for those two? It doesn’t seem like they’ve come with you.”  

“One will stay in Busan, and the other in Seoul. I have no intention of summoning them to the main family.”  

“You plan to have them stay at the branch?”  

“Yes. Neither of them has any particular interest in the Sword Saint family’s swordsmanship, nor do they need to learn it.”  

Yoo Moo-hak nodded.  

They were individuals who had already firmly established their own combat styles. Ranker  hunters like them had no reason to adhere to the Sword Saint family’s training methods at this point.  

If anything, it would only hinder their own fighting techniques.  

“However, Father, I have one request.”  

“Speak.”  

“Please grant me one branch.”  

“Preposterous!” Jeon Dae-kwon exclaimed.  

The Sword Saint family’s branches operated similarly to guilds. Though subordinate to the main family, they typically acted independently.  

And now, he was asking for one?  

‘This is practically declaring his intent to build his own faction! This cannot be allowed.’  

As someone who supported Yoo Tae-rang and wanted him to become the family head, Jeon Dae-kwon could not let this slide.  

But Yoo Moo-hak had a different perspective.  

“Which one do you want?”  

“Family Head!”  

“Jeon Dae-kwon, you’ve been unusually talkative today.” Yoo Moo-hak shut down Jeon Dae-kwon’s objections.  

This reaction alone was proof that Yoo Moo-hak held Yoo Baek-jun in high regard.  

Jeon Dae-kwon sensed that the situation was taking a dangerous turn.  

“I’d like a branch in Seoul.”  

“Hmm.”  

Yoo Moo-hak rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.  

‘Seoul, where swordsmen like Lee Jun-woo are stationed. Those guys don’t support any particular successor.’  

Due to Seoul’s critical geographical importance, they had to remain neutral and act only on Yoo Moo-hak’s orders.  

Without his permission, even the successors couldn’t command them freely—unless it was an emergency.  

‘It wouldn’t hurt to give him some support.’  

Yoo Baek-jun’s abilities were undeniable.  

The only regret was that his talent had bloomed far too late.  

Compared to the other successors, who had been building their foundations since childhood, his faction was still too weak.  

Originally, Yoo Moo-hak had intended to leave that for him to overcome on his own.  

‘But he recruited Yoon Song-ha and Min Yi-jae…’  

He highly valued that resourcefulness.  

If given a proper foundation, Yoo Moo-hak was curious to see how Yoo Baek-jun would expand his influence.  

He must have realized his limitations within the family and turned his sights outward for talent.  

“Interesting.”  

There was no harm to the Sword Saint family in this.  

The internal divisions might deepen, and the succession struggle could intensify, but that was also part of the plan.  

Growth always comes with pain.  

“Very well.”  

Jeon Dae-kwon was so shocked his mouth hung open. Even Lee Gun-mo, who had arrived late, doubted his ears.  

The succession battle was heating up.  

Everyone present could feel it.  

‘Everything’s going according to plan.’  

Yoo Baek-jun smiled to himself.  

* * *

Jeon Dae-kwon and Lee Gun-mo sought out Yoo Tae-rang. He was at the mansion where the gnomes resided.  

“Is there anything else you need?”  

“This should suffice, Benefactor. It seems more than enough for our research.”  

Bartwek, the leader of the gnomes who had followed Yoo Tae-rang from their kingdom to the Sword Saint’s family, answered.  

He was essentially their chief.  

“The Sword Saint’s family has an abundance of high-quality magic stones. Use them to further your magical technology research.”  

“Understood.”  

Yoo Tae-rang turned to the grandmasters waiting behind him. Lee Gun-mo maintained his composure, but Jeon Dae-kwon looked impatient.  

“What’s the matter, Grandmasters?”  

“We have something to discuss regarding the youngest master. It’d be best if others didn’t hear.”  

“Hmm, let me know if you need anything.”  

“Yes, we’ll take our leave now.”  

Bartwek and the gnomes bowed politely before departing, leaving only Yoo Tae-rang and the two grandmasters.  

He sat down first.  

“What’s so urgent? What has Yoo Baek-jun done now?”  

“To be precise, it’s the Family Head who…”  

“Father?”  

Yoo Tae-rang frowned. Lee Gun-mo, sitting across from him, continued.  

“The Family Head has decided to entrust Yoo Baek-jun with the Sword Saint family’s Seoul branch.”  

“The Seoul branch.”  

His face twisted further.  

Any other branch would have been one thing, but the Seoul branch? That was unthinkable—it should never have happened.  

“That branch didn’t even have a branch leader, did it?”  

“No, strictly speaking, Master Lee Jun-woo had been acting as the de facto branch leader. Even if Yoo Baek-jun becomes the official branch leader, Lee Jun-woo will likely continue handling the practical affairs.”  

“Why?”  

Yoo Tae-rang rubbed his temples.  

Why would his father hand over the Seoul branch, of all things, to him? It made no sense.  

The only plausible explanation was…  

“He must be trying to strengthen Yoo Baek-jun’s influence.”  

“Father is?”  

“Yes. The Seoul branch is a neutral faction. Handing it to a successor effectively means…”  

“He’s making the Seoul branch serve Yoo Baek-jun. He’s personally building Yoo Baek-jun’s faction, is that it?”  

A faint, bitter smile appeared on Yoo Tae-rang’s lips.  

It was too sharp to be called a smile.  

“He must have taken quite a liking to him.”  

“This is unacceptable! There’s already a proper successor, and now he’s nurturing another? Just how much more does he intend to test us…?”  

“Don’t worry too much, Grandmaster.”  

Yoo Tae-rang stood up.  

“I’ve already prepared countermeasures.”  

“Is there anything we can do to help?”  

“Well… if there’s one thing, it’d be to reach out to those in the Seoul branch who have ties with you two.”  

Lee Gun-mo nodded.  

“We’ll do that. It won’t be easy.”  

“I know. Please do your best.”  

Jeon Dae-kwon and Lee Gun-mo left with somewhat calmer expressions than when they had arrived.  

Left alone, Yoo Tae-rang gazed out the window.  

A shadow fell behind him.  

“Ha Yeon-jeong.”  

“Yes, Young Master.”  

“The preparations are complete, right?”  

It was the shadow of Ha Yeon-jeong.  

Stepping forward, she smiled quietly.  

“Of course. I’ve connected the Black Shadow with a usable villain organization. The moment Yoo Baek-jun ventures outside, Kim Mok-jun and his men will move.”  

“He’s been busy moving around outside lately.”  

“Yes, an opportunity will arise soon.”  

Yoo Tae-rang nodded.  

“Also, make contact with those around Yoo Baek-jun. Even the newly recruited Min Yi-jae and Yoon Song-ha. You never know—someone among them might hold a grudge against him.”  

“Understood.”  

Those who could be swayed would be swayed.  

Those who couldn’t would be dealt with.  

“Even if that someone is my own brother…”  

***

The Sword Saint family’s Seoul branch had come under Yoo Baek-jun’s management. While those who heard the news were stunned, the Seoul branch itself was surprisingly calm.  

“Young Master Yoo Baek-jun?”  

“If it’s him, well, it makes sense.”  

If anything, they were accepting of it.  

The people here had fought alongside Yoo Baek-jun during the Great Invasion, battling the demonic forces.  

Having witnessed his actions firsthand, they believed he was fit for the role.  

“Welcome to the Seoul branch.”  

Lee Jun-woo was among them. He warmly greeted Yoo Baek-jun upon his arrival.  

“Thank you. Well, though I’ve been put in charge of the Seoul branch, I’ll likely rely on you, Master Lee Jun-woo, for most matters. Is that alright?”  

“It’d be an honor, Young Master.”  

“In that case, there’s one thing I’d like you to do.”  

Lee Jun-woo listened attentively.  

“Summon the mages from the Magic Tower and have them install a magic circle. One that connects bidirectionally with the demon realm.”  

“Understood. Should we also implement an authentication system like the one in the Seoul branch?”  

“Yeah.”  

It was a system that restricted magic circle usage to only pre-registered individuals.  

They couldn’t just let anyone travel freely between the human and demon realms, so it was a necessary measure.  

“Then, I’ll take my leave for now.”  

Lee Jun-woo departed.  

Left behind were Yoo Baek-jun and Han Seong-ah, who had been silently listening to the conversation.  

Yoo Baek-jun sat down in a chair.  

“The room’s spacious. Nice.”  

“I heard it was originally the branch leader’s office.”  

“Hmm.”  

Yoo Baek-jun glanced around.  

Though it had been without an owner for a long time, Lee Jun-woo had kept it clean and organized.  

‘The Seoul branch… not bad.’  

His reason for wanting the Seoul branch was simple: he needed swordsmen who could move at his command.  

‘I’m severely lacking in manpower.’  

Another advantage was that he was already familiar with them from having worked together multiple times.  

And their skills were unquestionable.  

‘The second major event will be happening soon.’  

Yoo Baek-jun leaned back deeply into the chair. An organization came to mind.  

The Cult of Resurrection.  

“Ugh…”  

Fanatics who worshipped the god of death from another world. They committed all sorts of atrocities under the guise of resurrecting the dead.  

They would cause trouble in Busan.  

‘They’ll start stealing demon corpses for research and eventually achieve results.’  

And then, the chain of events would begin. To prevent that, he needed the Seoul branch.  

Unlike the first major event, which was unavoidable, this one could be stopped beforehand.  

“Sigh…”  

Another busy period lay ahead.  

A sigh escaped him unknowingly.