I Became the Successor of the Martial God Chapter 153

I Became the Successor of the Martial God

Chapter 153.  

Elonan was not the only one shocked. The other elves were also staring at the necklace in surprise.  

It was only natural.  

“A necklace woven from the World Tree… And to think it’s this fresh…”  

“Yes, it’s a living World Tree.”  

Elonan’s eyes widened .World Trees were not singular entities—they existed across Halpeon, each nurturing life in barren lands. 

But their locations were fiercely guarded secrets. 

To see one woven into an artifact was unthinkable.

Yoo Baek-jun set the necklace down.  

“Hah, is it from Halpeon?”  

“No. It’s from our world.”  

“Then that means…”  

Elonan seemed to have guessed what Yoo Baek-jun was implying.  

He nodded.  

“Yes. I intend to go with all of you to our world—to where the World Tree is.”  

“So not only must we abandon our homeland, but now you ask us to turn our backs on the world we lived in…?”  

“How could this be…”  

The elves listening to the conversation sighed in despair.  

Even ‘I’ had been living well until a single game dragged me into this unfamiliar world, so I could empathize with their feelings.  

And because of that, I also understood their need for hope.  

“It’s not about living there forever. How about thinking of it as staying only until you’ve gathered enough strength? The strength to take revenge on the kingdom.”  

“Are you saying we can return?”  

“There is a way. I promise. When the time comes, I will help you return here.”  

After all, a separate quest related to the kingdom’s downfall would appear later.  

I could just bring them back then.  

“Strength… the strength for revenge…”  

“…”  

The elves fell into thought.  

These were unfamiliar words to them—strength, revenge. They had never needed to consider such things before.  

But now, it was a reality they had to face.  

“Let’s do it.”  

“Delowin.”  

Perhaps sensing the hesitation of the other elves, Delowin, who had been quietly listening, stepped forward.  

“Those humans over there… they’re cruel.”  

Delowin clenched her eyes shut.  

She had been on the outskirts of the forest and had witnessed the atrocities committed by the army.  

Countless elves had been captured, and in the process, they had suffered unspeakable horrors.  

“Our village will end up the same way. As the human said, we don’t have the strength to fight and win against those soldiers right now.”  

“So you suggest we abandon our homeland?”  

“Elonan.”  

Delowin opened her eyes.  

Her golden pupils stared straight at Elonan. 

Eyes imbued with an unknown magical power.  

“We can’t survive here anymore. Everyone knows it, don’t they? The protection of the World Tree that once sheltered us has long since vanished.”  

“…”  

“The World Tree won’t return. Clinging to the faint hope that a departed World Tree might come back and staying here—”  

Delowin shook her head firmly.  

“—is meaningless. If that’s the case, we should seek new hope and leave. To where the human spoke of—where a new World Tree awaits.”  

“…It’s an unfamiliar world. Adapting won’t be easy. Are you still alright with that?”  

“If it’s the way to save our kin.”  

Elonan stared into Delowin’s eyes.  

Golden pupils that only those of blue blood could possess. 

She was the daughter of the elder, the only elf in the village who could become the next elder.  

Her younger brother, Baimar, could not. The special bloodline passed down only to her family had not been inherited by him.  

‘Blood infused with the power of the World Tree.’  

In the distant past, her ancestors had tended to the World Tree that took root in this land.  

The World Tree had bestowed a unique power upon her bloodline for that very purpose, and it had been passed down through generations.  

“…”  

Despite bearing such precious blood, Delowin had yet to feel the weight of that responsibility.  

At least, that’s what Elonan had thought.  

But now, it seemed things had changed.  

“There’s one condition.”  

“Yes, please speak.”  

“I will step down as acting chieftain. You will take my place as chieftain.”

“…”  

When the World Tree disappeared, the elder and chieftain of the village vanished as well.  

Since then, Elonan had been acting in his stead.  

Now, it was time to return the role to its rightful owner.  

“Yes.”  

Delowin nodded.  

“I’ll do it.”  

Her face was filled with unwavering resolve.  

* * *  

The conversation ended there.  

Delowin ascended to the position of the new elven chieftain, and the elves decided to follow her first command without question.  

“Gather everything you can carry! We must not leave a single thing behind for those humans!”  

“Take all the precious items. Hurry!”  

Yoo Baek-jun had instructed Delowin to carefully gather the rare materials in the village.  

This was to ensure they didn’t fall into the hands of the Baim Kingdom and strengthen their enemies.  

‘No wonder the Baim Kingdom covets this forest.’  

The Ruwinid Forest was filled with all sorts of rare materials. The problem was that most of them were unusable by the Royal army.  

First, there were the Verdant Magic Stones, brimming with magical energy. 

These stones greatly enhanced wood-attribute magic and contained immense power.  

‘At least A-grade. Occasionally, high-quality stones even reach S-grade… Truly incredible magic stones.’  

In addition, there were countless medicinal herbs that could be used for elixirs and rare animals that could serve as materials for powerful equipment.  

The elves could have utilized these resources, but their beliefs prevented them from doing so.  

‘The real problem is the ores.’  

The forest held vast deposits of rare ores—some so scarce they were considered legends in the outside world.  

This was the true reason the Baim Kingdom coveted the forest. They wanted to mine those ores and arm their military.  

‘At first, the Baim Kingdom probably tried peaceful negotiations…’  

But mining those ores would inevitably require uprooting and developing the forest.  

The elves would never stand by and allow that. They were a race that protected and nurtured the forest.  

“Elonan, I have a question.”  

“Speak.”  

Yoo Baek-jun approached Elonan, who had been watching the elves pack their belongings.  

“Is there any way to make it harder for the Royal army to access the underground mines?”  

“There is one.”  

Elonan pulled out a magic stone from pocket.  

“Lately, humans have been sneaking into the mines, so we set up defensive measures. Activating them should do the trick.”  

“What kind of defenses are we talking about?”  

“First, a barrier will block access to the mines. Then, we’ve set up a magical labyrinth inside using magic stones, along with traps. And finally…”  

Elonan’s eyes gleamed ominously.  

“…we’ve installed a spell to collapse the mines.”  

“Wow…”  

Just when the kingdom thinks they’ve broken through the thick barrier and destroyed the labyrinth, finally ready to mine the ores—  

The mines would come crashing down.  

‘Ruthless. Absolutely ruthless. And they still want to mine after this?’  

Yoo Baek-jun clicked his tongue.  

If anything, it might only fuel their determination.  

Still, it would buy them time.  

“Human, the evacuation preparations are nearly complete. How do we get to your world?”  

Ignasil approached him.  

Since the elves didn’t have much to carry, gathering only their valuables was enough.  

Yoo Baek-jun raised his head.  

“Where is the site of this forest’s World Tree?”  

“Why there…?”  

“That’s where the path will open. Just head there.”  

Since the guide said so, Ignasil nodded in understanding.  

If anything, it was a relief.  

“The path to the World Tree remains untouched by humans. It should still be safe.”  

“That’s good. Still, we can’t just leave quietly. We’ll need to draw the enemy’s attention.”  

“Hmm, the patrol squad and I can handle that. If it’s just for diversion, it shouldn’t be too dangerous.”  

“No, that won’t be enough.”  

“Then?”  

Yoo Baek-jun looked beyond the forest.  

Earlier, he had tortured Roben for information.  

“Shouldn’t we rescue the captured elves?”  

“…!”  

Ignasil was taken aback.  

“You… want to rescue them?”  

“Yes. The knight I interrogated earlier gave me some information. According to him, they were taken to where the enemy commander is stationed.”  

Right where Knight Commander Farowell is.  

The enemy had set up camp on the outskirts of the forest, directing troop movements from there.  

Yoo Baek-jun planned to strike there.  

“It’ll be dangerous. Are you sure about this?”  

“To minimize the risk, I’d appreciate it if you could draw their attention properly.”  

“…Understood.”  

Ignasil nodded with a grave expression, as if entrusted with a critical mission.  

He and Elonan left first.  

Left alone, Yoo Baek-jun let out a sigh.  

‘Better to deal with this now. If I leave them alive, the chain of events will become too troublesome.’  

He had no choice but to take the risk.  

* * *  

The elves departed.  

Carrying light burdens, they turned their backs on their homeland, their sorrow evident as they kept glancing back at the village.  

They headed toward the site of the World Tree.  

“Be careful, human.”  

Delowin’s parting words.  

Upon hearing what Yoo Baek-jun planned to do, her mood visibly darkened. 

Her ears drooped, then perked up again, twitching restlessly—it was fascinating to watch.  

“I’ll handle my own business. Just make sure you don’t get caught by the soldiers and leave safely.”  

“Yes…”  

“I’ll return before it’s too late.”  

Yoo Baek-jun saw the elves off.  

Delowin kept looking back with eyes full of reluctance, so he had to shoo her away.  

“Human, what should we do now?”  

Only Yoo Baek-jun and the elven patrol squad remained.  

He pulled out the map Ignasil had given him.  

“Split into groups and move separately. Draw the enemy’s attention as much as possible at this point. No need to overcommit—retreat if it gets too dangerous.”  

“That shouldn’t be too hard.”  

“And… hmm.”  

Yoo Baek-jun pointed to a few key paths.  

“Enemy troops will approach from here. Can we set up some traps or something?”  

“Traps, huh…” Ignasil nodded. “We can work on it now, but it’ll take time.”  

“Good. I’ll buy that time. Ah, one more thing—when drawing their attention…”  

Yoo Baek-jun emphasized one point.  

“Make sure the enemy thinks there are far more elves than there actually are.”  

“That’s easy enough. Understood.”  

Combining ambushes with traps would prevent the enemy from acting recklessly.  

And it would surely divert their attention.  

‘Meanwhile, I’ll strike Farowell.’  

Yoo Baek-jun stomped the ground.  

* * *  

The soldiers were advancing.  

A mixed group of elf hunters and mercenaries, led by the hunters guiding the way.  

“I heard the northern group has gotten close to the village. Seems like they’re planning to surround it.”  

“Oh, so we might get back sooner this time?”  

“Once we return, heheh… The bounty will be hefty. Let’s hit the town for the first time in ages.”  

“Right after getting paid…”  

They hadn’t faced much resistance on the way, so the soldiers were somewhat relaxed.  

Then—  

Thud!

“Guh—!”  

A spear shot through the air.  

The projectile pierced through the marching soldiers in a line before embedding itself into a tree.  

Before they could even process the shock—  

“Ghk—!”  

Crackle—! 

Yoo Baek-jun leaped down from somewhere, landing right in the middle of the soldiers, and stomped the ground with Thunderstomp Kick.  

Lightning surged outward.  

As the soldiers convulsed from paralysis, his clones dashed in and unleashed a merciless assault.  

“You… bastard!”  

A mercenary belatedly gasped in horror.  

Just moments ago, his comrades had been walking alongside him—now they were corpses in an instant.  

And after witnessing such overwhelming force—  

“Spread out! Now!”  

“Gyaaah—!”  

The soldiers frantically scrambled to create distance.  

Yoo Baek-jun watched them indifferently before pulling out the Soul Eater Gun from his pocket.  

And fired.  

Bang—!

The gunshot echoed.  

The soul-infused bullet struck not the living soldiers—but the scattered corpses on the ground.  

The soldiers stared in confusion.  

Why attack the dead?  

Their question was soon answered.  

—Groooan…  

—Uuuugh…  

The dead began to rise.  

“Ngh…!”  

As their reanimated comrades turned on them, the soldiers screamed.  

“Waaah—!”  

Yoo Baek-jun stomped the ground again.