I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 36.
“Hmm, ugh, ughhh.”
Han Seong-ah was pacing around in front of the altar.
Her face was filled with worry and concern, and her eyes were fixed on the passage beneath the altar.
Cheon Min-ju watched her anxiously.
“Um, Instructor Han Seong-ah…”
“This won’t do. I really should go in… Ugh!”
“I told you, you can’t, Instructor!”
“But still, ughhh!”
Han Seong-ah tried to enter the passage under the altar but was bounced back.
She gritted her teeth and tried desperately to get through, but it was impossible.
“Instructor, the youngest master will be fine. Let’s trust him and wait for now.”
“Tch, fine. Park Chan-kyung, you’re right. You are, but……”
She couldn’t help but worry.
It had already been a day since Yoo Baek-jun disappeared beneath the altar.
He said he’d be back soon, but since he hadn’t returned yet, it was only natural to be concerned.
—Kya-hoong…….
“L-Look, Instructor. Seol-yeong is lying here quietly like this. That must mean he’s safe, right?”
“Hmm.”
Seol-yeong was sprawled on the ground, lazily yawning.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward the creature.
—Grrrk?
Sensing the attention, Seol-yeong got up from its spot.
Then, holding its own tail in its mouth, it slipped into a shadowy, inconspicuous corner.
“It must really dislike us.”
“More than disliking us, I think it just dislikes people in general. That’s the vibe I get from it.”
“Really? What’s the difference?”
“…It’s different because it’s not just us it dislikes, but all humans.”
Cheon Min-ju tilted her head in confusion, and Park Chan-kyung gave up on explaining further.
Han Seong-ah let out a long sigh.
“Fine, let’s wait. He must be safe.”
She sat down and closed her eyes.
Park Chan-kyung and Cheon Min-ju sighed in relief.
And so, another period of patience passed.
How long had they waited?
Tap, tap.
“Huh?”
A sound came from the stairs.
It sounded like a cane tapping against the ground. Everyone’s eyes turned toward the staircase.
And after a moment—
“Young master!”
“Youngest master, you’re safe.”
Yoo Baek-jun appeared.
His clothes were intact, but his entire body was covered in pitch-black soot.
Han Seong-ah rushed to him in a fluster.
“Young master, what in the world… What did you do down there to end up in such a state?!”
“Such a state? You’re subtly hurting my feelings, you know?”
“Gah! M-My apologies.”
Yoo Baek-jun, with the Thunder spear he had used as a cane strapped to his back, leaned on Han Seong-ah’s shoulder.
“Never mind that, just help me up. Even after taking medicine and resting, my condition isn’t improving.”
“You rested?”
“More accurately, I passed out. How long has it been?”
“A day.”
Yoo Baek-jun clicked his tongue.
No wonder he was so exhausted. The injuries were severe enough that he’d need several more days of rest to fully recover.
—Kyao!
“Oh, right. Seol-yeong. Are you doing well? Why is it carrying its own tail in its mouth?”
“Well, snow leopards have similar habits. There’s a theory that it’s for preserving body heat.”
“Is that so?”
Seol-yeong, still holding its tail, ran up to Yoo Baek-jun.
Then it disappeared into the Black Ghost Robe.
He could feel it wriggling against his chest.
“It’s warm, so that’s nice. Let’s go back.”
It was time to return to the family.
* * *
The journey back to the family was much harder than the trip to the dungeon.
His physical condition was incomparably worse, so it couldn’t be helped.
“So this is how they felt.”
Yoo Baek-jun sighed repeatedly as he watched the two struggling disciples.
After enduring the grueling trek for about three days, they finally reached the family.
“The youngest master has returned!”
As soon as Yoo Baek-jun arrived at the family, the lookouts announced his arrival.
The main gate opened.
“Yoo Baek-jun has returned?”
“The other direct descendants haven’t even come back yet, and he’s already returned…?”
“Did he fail to conquer the gate?”
The family members buzzed with chatter.
Excluding the round-trip time, he had conquered the dungeon and gate in just two days.
It was so fast that it was only natural for them to be suspicious.
“Young master, will you report to the family head immediately? Or…”
“Let me wash up first. As Instructor Han Seong-ah said, I can’t meet him looking like this, right?”
“Ah, young master. Please.”
Yoo Baek-jun returned to his residence, washed up, and received treatment from pharmacist Joo Jung-won
“Hmm, you’re recovering well. The initial treatment was done properly, so there’s nothing more for me to do.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Still, you’ve suffered full-body burns, so take it easy for a few days.”
“Understood.”
Yoo Baek-jun stepped outside the residence.
There, attendants and butlers were waiting for him.
They served Yoo Moo-hak.
“…The family head has summoned you.”
Yoo Baek-jun followed them.
Arriving at the now-familiar audience chamber, he saw Yoo Moo-hak’s figure.
He was looking out the window.
“Father, you called for me.”
“Yes, you’re here.”
Yoo Moo-hak spoke without turning around.
After conquering a dangerous gate, wouldn’t it be natural to offer some words of comfort or concern?
But that man wasn’t the type to do so.
“You returned quickly. Did you conquer the gate, or did you flee?”
“Which do you think it is?”
“Are you questioning me?”
Yoo Baek-jun smiled quietly.
“You already know the truth, don’t you? It’s no secret that the family has a gate detection device.”
“Hmm.”
A gate detection device.
It was a device that indicated whether a gate had appeared in the vicinity and its level.
Such devices were typically owned by Hunter associations in various countries, but the Sword Saint’s family also possessed one.
‘He already knows whether I conquered the gate or not, yet he pretends not to.’
Yoo Baek-jun clicked his tongue inwardly.
“How was the gate?”
“There were many monsters. Venom Mantises, their queen. I dealt with them all and closed the gate.”
“B-rank and A-rank monsters, then. Given their nature, their numbers must have been overwhelming.”
Yoo Moo-hak smirked slightly.
“And you conquered that with just four people?”
“Yes. Even with four, if you know the monsters’ habits and traits, it’s manageable.”
“Oh ho……”
Only then did Yoo Moo-hak turn around. His indifferent eyes bore into Yoo Baek-jun.
“You neglected martial arts as a child and only read books. So that’s where you learned such knowledge.”
Yoo Baek-jun remained silent.
Yoo Moo-hak let out a small scoff at his silence before turning back to the window.
“Leave. I’ll summon you again once the others have all gathered.”
“Yes, Father.”
Yoo Baek-jun left the room as if he had been waiting for this.
Based on his experience from the game, Yoo Jung-yeon and Yoo Min would return in two days, and Yoo Kang-ho would arrive late that night.
At most, he had five days to spare.
“Ah, let’s rest for now.”
—Grrrl.
The truth is, there’s hardly any time to rest peacefully when thinking about Yoo Tae-rang’s return.
But today, I just wanted to rest deeply.
Without a single thought.
* * *
It took two more days for Yoo Baek-jun to fully recover.
Thanks to the various tonics made by Joo Joongwon, his body recovered quite quickly.
—Crunch, crack! Grrrrr…….
“It goes crazy when it’s given Hanwoo beef.”
Yoo Baek-jun’s room.
He clicked his tongue as he watched Seol-yeong chewing on Hanwoo beef on the floor.
Its teeth were so strong—It chewed effortlessly even with the tough bones still attached.
“Hmm……”
After sleeping for two days straight, he felt lethargic.
Yoo Baek-jun blankly watched Seol-yeong for a while before opening his Status window.
[Yoo Baek-jun]
Strength: B (71/100)
Agility: B (67/100)
Stamina: B (92/100)
Magic Power: B+ (32/100)
[Unique Ability: The Book of the Martial God (EX, 3★)]
[Traits: Heavenly Martial Body (S), Energizer (C), One Invited to the Spirit Realm (C), Master of the Extreme Cold (A)]
His stamina had increased significantly.
Stats improve through training or hunting monsters.
Fighting and defeating stronger monsters boosts them even more.
‘Nacheol was definitely a tough opponent.’
That must be why his stats had risen so much.
Yoo Baek-jun calculated the time in his head.
‘About a month left until Yoo Tae-rang arrives.’
That should be enough to reach A-rank.
It’s the minimum requirement to clear the events after Yoo Tae-rang’s return.
Yoo Baek-jun glanced at the skills listed below his status window.
“Let’s organize this.”
He couldn’t help but sigh when he saw the cluttered skill list.
Fortunately, Heroes Road had a skill organization feature.
Yoo Baek-jun decided to sort his skills.
Martial Arts:
Heavenly Destruction Fist Technique (B, 2★)
Heavenly Destruction Mind Technique (B, 2★)
Dragon Fang Spear Technique (B+, 1★)]
[Footwork Techniques: Lightness Technique (C, 3★), Ghost Phantom Steps (B, 2★)]
Skills:
Cold Aura (A, 2★)
Berserker (B+, 1★)
Elemental manifestation (A, 2★)
Heavy Strike (C, 3★)
Ground Kick (C, 3★)
Joint Strike (C, 2★)
Gale Kick (C, 4★)
Yoo Baek-jun stared quietly at the Status window.
“Is this a bit more organized now?”
A self-deprecating laugh escaped his lips.
He had set aside Herbal Medicine Preparation since it had no proficiency and little chance of ranking up.
Even after tidying up, it still didn’t feel properly organized.
“This should be enough, right? Huh?”
—Awoo?
Seol-yeong was still busy eating.
Yoo Baek-jun let it be and sat on the training magic circle in his room.
‘I should also accumulate some magic power.’
He closed his eyes and focused.
The Heavenly Destruction Mind Technique that Han Seong-ah had refined was excellent.
Using it in the morning helped keep his mind clear for the rest of the day.
“Huuuu.”
Yoo Baek-jun exhaled after completing the technique.
His condition had definitely improved. He stood up and stretched his arms.
“Maybe I’ll spend today training.”
—Grrrr……
Perhaps because the Heavenly Destruction Mind Technique took time, Seol-yeong had finished eating and was now dozing off.
Its fluffy tail was curled up near its face, making it look irresistibly adorable.
“Come here. You’ve gotten heavier, haven’t you?”
—Purr, purrr……
Yoo Baek-jun picked up the purring cub and stepped outside.
Han Seong-ah was waiting for him.
“Young Master, are you feeling better now?”
“Yeah, I’m fully recovered.”
“…Mmm.”
Yoo Baek-jun smiled and headed downstairs.
Below, Choi Seung-min was busy cleaning with the other attendants.
“Ah, Young Master. You’re awake. What would you like for meals? Something simple?”
“Today, the chef’s special course.”
“Understood. I’ll prepare it as I see fit.”
Choi Seung-min hurried to the kitchen.
“There are quite a few more attendants now.”
“Yes, the Family Head personally sent them.”
“Is this his way of treating me as a direct descendant now that we’ve succeeded in securing the gate?”
Yoo Baek-jun smirked.
‘I just can’t bring myself to like this damn family.’
The ‘me’ who played the game didn’t particularly like the Sword Saint Family.
In fact, in routes other than Yoo Baek-jun’s, the Sword Saint Family was…
‘Basically the villains.’
A corrupt force to be overthrown, something like that.
Usually, Yoo Tae-rang becomes the Family Head, after which the Sword Saint Family would completely go downhill.
Because of this, in Han Chang-woo’s route, the Sword Saint Family is wiped out entirely, while in Jin Seo-yeon’s route, it meets a fate of being torn apart piece by piece.
‘Survival of the fittest, the strong devour the weak… How outdated.’
To avoid that fate, the Sword Saint Family’s flaws must be eradicated.
And also
‘I’ll need to bring in outside talent.’
The food arrived quickly.
As he ate the freshly prepared meal, Yoo Baek-jun pondered his next steps.
