I Became the Successor of the Martial God Chapter 45

I Became the Successor of the Martial God

Chapter 45.

“Yoo Baek-jun?”

“The Sword Saint family is offering to help?”

The meeting room erupted into murmurs.

Everyone had been cautiously avoiding committing to assistance, but now someone had stepped forward willingly.

And not just anyone—the Sword Saint family. Among all the factions present, this was one that could not be ignored.

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah, well, would I say it for no reason?”

“No, uh, sorry. I was just a bit surprised.”

Ryu Il-woo seemed genuinely taken aback, as if he hadn’t expected anyone to offer help.

“Thank you. The Sword Saint family… that’ll be a huge help.”

“No need for such formalities.”

Ryu Il-woo bowed his head slightly.

Yoo Baek-jun waved his hand dismissively, and Jin Seo-yeon stared at him intently before leaning in to whisper in his ear.

“Hey, are you really planning to help?”

“Huh? Did I say something weird?”

“Do I have to help too?”

“Only if you want to.”

Since it was a whisper, no one else could hear, but the two looked so close that the onlookers began murmuring.

Song Tae-yeon’s eyes flared as he watched.

“I’m against it.”

“Song Tae-yeon, are you refusing to help?”

“Yeah! Ha, I wondered why we were all gathered here, but it’s for this nonsense… Unbelievable.”

Song Tae-yeon scoffed at Ryu Il-woo.

“A Gate of an unprecedented type? So what? Judging by its size, it’s probably around B+ to A-rank. Why not just tackle it alone?”

“We don’t know what might happen.”

“Dealing with unexpected situations is what real skill is about. Huh? What about those proud holy knights you’re always boasting about?”

Song Tae-yeon tilted his head mockingly, looking down at Ryu Il-woo. Then his gaze shifted to Yoo Baek-jun.

“Besides, with that stray mutt and the oh-so-great Sword Saint family here, you can just team up and take it down. You’re famous, right? The dogs of Seoraksan Mountain.”

“Our order is currently handling an A-rank Gate. We’re short on manpower as it is. We’re grateful for the Sword Saint family’s help, but we need more.”

Song Tae-yeon snorted.

“Then just wait until you can handle it.”

“Song Tae-yeon.”

“What? Incheon is your territory, isn’t it? You want us to clean up your mess? Who’s going to cover the losses if things go wrong?”

“That’s our responsibility—”

“Then let’s find a compromise.”

BANG!

Song Tae-yeon slammed the table.

“First, the Crimson Crusaders and the Sword Saint family will take on the Gate. If they fail, the rest of us will step in.”

“What?!”

Ryu Il-woo gasped.

It was an irresponsible compromise—shifting all the burden and blame onto just two factions.

“So you’re just going to sit back and watch?”

“No, like I said, we’ll help if you fail.”

“You’re just using us as disposable frontline troops! We should all work together from the start—”

“Enough with the idealistic nonsense.”

Song Tae-yeon smirked, scanning the room.

“Let’s hear what everyone else thinks. What’s your opinion?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Do we all go to raid the Gate like Ryu Il-woo says, or do we wait and observe like I suggested?”

He locked eyes with each person.

“Let’s decide.”

The room fell silent.

The sound of mental calculations was almost audible.

Chae Jeong-joon sighed and asked,

“…What do the rest of you think?”

“I think Song Tae-yeon’s idea is better. Sending a small team first to assess the situation is smarter than committing everyone.”

“I need more time to think.”

“I, uh… need to discuss it with my father…”

“I agree with Song Tae-yeon.”

“Our guild isn’t in great shape either. It’s better to follow his suggestion.”

Chae Jeong-joon—agreed.

Dokgo-jun and Peng So-young—undecided.

The rest—agreed.

Ryu Il-woo’s face darkened, while Song Tae-yeon grinned triumphantly. He turned to Jin Seo-yeon.

“Seo-yeon, what about you?”

“I refuse.”

“What?”

Song Tae-yeon’s smile froze.

“I don’t like such underhanded tactics.”

“Un-underhanded?!”

His smile twisted into a snarl.

“What the hell are you saying?! I’m just being cautious—”

“Cautious?”

Jin Seo-yeon’s cold face curled into a sneer.

A blatant mockery. Song Tae-yeon trembled before gritting his teeth.

“…Fine. Then the three of you can handle it. The rest of us will leave.”

He tried to rally his supporters and exit.

“The meeting isn’t over yet. Sit down.”

A voice cut through—low, youthful, yet carrying an undeniable weight.

Yoo Baek-jun’s voice.

“What?”

“Sit. The meeting isn’t finished.”

“You little—!”

“Didn’t you hear me?”

CLANG!

Song Tae-yeon’s body locked up.

The moment he tried to storm toward Yoo Baek-jun, their eyes met—and he couldn’t move.

“I…”

An overwhelming pressure engulfed him.

A force so intense it made his legs tremble and his body shrink instinctively.

“I told you to sit.”

Song Tae-yeon’s body shook under Yoo Baek-jun’s gaze.

Like a servant before a king.

Silence.

The attendees swallowed hard, crushed by the overwhelming aura. Those near Yoo Baek-jun felt it even more.

‘What is this?’

Jin Seo-yeon, sitting beside him, noticed the change.

At first, he had been watching the meeting with his usual detached expression.

But the moment Song Tae-yeon tried to leave—his demeanor changed.

‘It’s like he became a different person.’

From calm to domineering.

Song Tae-yeon stood frozen.

A skill—Overwhelm. It weakened the target while instilling fear.

Yoo Baek-jun glanced at Yoon Song-ha.

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

“…Sit down.”

“Ugh—!”

Yoon Song-ha forced Song Tae-yeon into his seat, shocked to feel him trembling.

Was this bastard actually scared?

“What’s the rush? We haven’t even heard the full details about the Gate.”

Yoo Baek-jun turned to Ryu Il-woo.

“Do you know more about the Gate?”

“…Yes. The surrounding forest is dying because of it. Pitch black.”

The screen changed, showing the Gate’s vicinity.

A crimson Gate deep in the mountains, with trees and grass rotting around it.

Literally turning black.

“What about the animals?”

“They all fled. Some caught in the Gate’s emergence lost their minds.”

Footage showed beasts with blood-red eyes—corrupted by the demonic energy (Magi) leaking from the connected hell dimension. Magi was poison to life.

“Hmm.”

Yoo Baek-jun studied the screen, deep in thought. The others watched him nervously.

“I don’t know about this Gate, but I’ve seen similar cases before.”

“Really?”

“Yes. The Sword Saint family’s records mention a monster that appeared long ago. Wherever it went, the land turned black.”

“What monster?”

Yoo Baek-jun answered slowly.

“Demons.”

“Demons?! The ones sealed away in ancient times?”

“Yes. They appeared in Seoraksan Mountain once and were repelled by our ancestors. The records are detailed.”

“You have such records?”

Chae Jeong-joon looked stunned.

“I don’t know what this Gate is. But judging from our records, it might be related to demons.”

“What exactly are demons?”

Ryu Il-woo asked.

Many monsters emerged from Gates, but demons were unheard of.

“Literally, demonic creatures. A race from another dimension… Unlike mindless monsters, they’re cunning and cruel. They constantly emit Magi, which affects those exposed to it.”

Ryu Il-woo fell into thought.

Every time he saw that Gate, he felt unease—different from facing ordinary monsters.

A primal fear.

“There are similarities. We can’t be sure it’s demons, but it’s worth investigating.”

“If it’s demons, isn’t that even more dangerous? We shouldn’t act recklessly!”

“True, demons are more dangerous.”

Yoo Baek-jun cut Song Tae-yeon off.

“But! The Sword Saint family has records on demons. We can use that to minimize casualties.”

“Are those records even reliable? You’d act based on outdated texts?”

“Or what? Wait until that dangerous Gate breaks open?”

Yoo Baek-jun glared at Song Tae-yeon.

“Do you know why this meeting was called?”

Song Tae-yeon hesitated.

“Long ago, the Golden Lion Guild faced a crisis they couldn’t handle alone. They asked other guilds and families for help.”

That was why this meeting was held at the Golden Lion’s hotel instead of the Hunter Association.

“Back then, everyone understood and gladly helped.”

“Th-that was—”

“You received help, yet now you’d turn away because it’s ‘someone else’s problem’? Even with a Gate this dangerous? For your own gain?”

Yoo Baek-jun let out a dry laugh.

“How shameless.”

”…….!”

Song Tae-yeon’s face flushed.

“If you’re so against it, fine—stay out. But if the Golden Lions ever need help again, don’t expect it from me.”

“Are you threatening me?!”

“Does it sound like a negotiation?”

Yoo Baek-jun leaned back in his chair. Song Tae-yeon gritted his teeth.

“Y-you lowly bastard……!”

“Well, since we’re already here, I might as well ask. Lowly bastard. So-called noble Sword Saint Family. The ‘Dogs of Seoraksan Mountain,’ as you put it.”

Yoo Baek-jun tilted his head with mockery.

“Can I take all of those comments you made earlier as the official stance of the Golden Lion Guild?”

“…!”

Yoon Song-ha behind him stiffened.

Those words, spoken in anger, were unforgivable, especially toward the Sword Saint family.

“I can tolerate insults made to me, but not to my family. If the guild’s heir speaks like this…”

Yoo Baek-jun smiled coldly.

“Should I assume the entire Golden Lion Guild shares this view?”

“Th-that’s not—”

“Answer me, Song Tae-yeon. Was this your personal outburst, or the guild’s stance?”

“Yoo Baek-jun.”

Song Tae-yeon hesitated, Unable to speak, Yoon Song-ha stepped forward, bowing deeply.

“We apologize. It was a grave insult. No one in our guild holds such views toward the Sword Saint family. Absolutely not.”

“So it was a personal outburst? Then I expect a personal apology.”

“An… apology?”

Yoo Baek-jun slowly raised his arm, pointing at Song Tae-yeon.

“Right here. Right now.”

“Song Tae-yeon, you will bow your head.”

Song Tae-yeon trembled—fear? Rage? Humiliation? Maybe all three.

“I…”

“Song Tae-yeon.”

As Song Tae-yeon struggled to speak, Yoon Song-ha stopped him, whispering urgently.

A private exchange. Song Tae-yeon’s body stiffened.

His face twisted further.

“I… I…”

CRACK!

He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. Then, slowly, his head lowered.

“I spoke… out of line. My apologies. I never meant… to insult the Sword Saint family.”

Yoo Baek-jun watched indifferently.