I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 50.
One thing has become clear, at least.
“There are demons in this city. Without a doubt.”
Yoo Baek-jun had said as much to Ryu Il-woo and Yoon Song-ha the night before, right before they parted ways.
“Haven’t you been feeling unusually tired since arriving in this city? Struggling to sleep at night, and when you do manage to, it’s just nightmares.”
“Well, now that you mention it… But considering the change in sleeping arrangements, it’s not that big of aâŚ.”
“It’s abnormal.”
Yoo Baek-jun stated firmly.
“Both of you, take this before sleeping tonight. By tomorrow morning, you’ll understand why I said this.”
“Ah, this is the potion Instructor Han Seong-ah was handing out earlier. Where did you get it?”
“I made it myself.”
Yoon Song-ha’s eyes widened.
Even at a glance, it was clearly a top-grade potion. Checking its properties, it was unlike anything she’d ever seen on the market.
He made this himself?
‘Song Tae-yeon underestimated him, thinking he was just some rookie who’d never shown his face before, but there’s no way he’s someone to be taken lightly.’
Whether it was his charisma from before or this potion now, both defied her expectations.
Ryu Il-woo drank the potion without hesitation.
“So, what kind of demon is in this city? There must be different types, right?”
“Most likely, a dream demon.”
“A dream demon? Like a succubus or something?”
“More like a higher-tier entity.”
Yoo Baek-jun explained about dream demons.
They are demons that feed on people’s nightmares, growing stronger from them.
Those whose dreams are continuously consumed eventually lose their sense of self entirely.
“And then what happens?”
“They become slaves to the dream demon. Moving and fighting like puppets under its control.”
“……”
Ryu Il-woo fell into deep thought with a grave expression.
As if suddenly remembering something, Yoon Song-ha interjected.
“That’s why everyone’s faces looked so lifeless. Like puppets.”
“Yes. Stay here long enough, and that’s what happens. We’re no exception.”
“…Will drinking this potion solve the problem?”
“It’s only a temporary measure. The potions aren’t infinite. Well, divine magic can help to some extent, but…”
“So there’s a time limit.”
Yoo Baek-jun shrugged.
“As our strength gets drained, even using holy power will become difficult. Eventually, we’ll be consumed.”
“Then we need to find the dream demon. Yoo Baek-jun, you said you’d get yourself arrested as a criminal to enter the castle. What’s the plan after that?”
“Well, it’s not exactly a great plan.”
Yoo Baek-jun scratched the back of his head. Frankly, it wasn’t something to be proud of.
“I’ll stand trial.”
“…Trial?”
Yoo Baek-jun grinned and laid out his plan. After hearing it, Ryu Il-woo shook his head.
“Do you really think that’ll work?”
“Yes. I’m certain.”
Seeing his confident face, there was no way to refuse.
Ryu Il-woo agreed to follow his plan.
* * *
The next morning, the raid team gathered in the city.
Despite sleeping endlessly yesterday, they felt better after drinking the potion provided by the Sword Saint family.
Everyone’s complexion looked better than the day before.
“Wow, I feel amazing!”
“Finally feels like I actually slept. Yesterday, no matter how much I slept, it didnât feel like it at all…”
“As expected of the Sword Saint family.”
The raid team members laughed and chatted, glancing at the Sword Saint family with newfound admiration.
“Did you distribute all the potions?”
“Yes, young master. Three bottles per person.”
“But those potions… aren’t they expensive?”
“Very. Ridiculously so.”
Each bottle was probably worth tens of millions.
A swordsman who heard the price whistled in disbelief.
“Incredible.”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s not our family’s ingredients anywayâwe got them from elsewhere.”
“Yes, what a relief.”
“Right. Anyway, remember what I told you yesterday?”
“I do. I’ll follow your instructions.”
Han Seong-ah bowed her head.
Last night, Yoo Baek-jun had summoned her and the other Sword Saint family swordsmen to give them orders.
When given a command, they simply obeyed.
“But young master, you told us not to be surprised… What exactly shouldnât we be surprised by?”
“You’ll know when you see it.”
He distanced himself from the group.
“Excuse me. You there, soldier?”
“Hm? What is it? Ah, travelers from another world.”
Just then, a group of patrolling soldiers appeared.
Yoo Baek-jun suddenly called out to one of them. The soldier slowly approached.
Yoo Baek-jun smiled, timing it just rightâ
WHAM!
“GuhâŚ!”
He punched the soldier square in the face.
The bustling city fell silent in an instant.
CRASH!
The guard who took the hit went flying, landing hard. He didnât moveâlikely knocked out cold.
The punch was strong enough to dent the helmet he wore. No surprise there.
“YouâŚyoung master?!”
Han Seong-ah screamed.
Grabbing a random passerby and punching them in the face? Who wouldnât panic?
The others were no different.
“Y-Yoo Baek-jun! What the hell are you doing?!”
“Look out! The guards are coming this way!”
“Seize him!”
The guardâs comrades rushed to surround Yoo Baek-jun, pointing sharp spears at him.
He just smiled and raised both hands.
“Well? Arrest me.”
“Grab him! Take him down!”
“Careful! Heâs a traveler from another world!”
“Young master!”
The guards swarmed and captured Yoo Baek-jun. Han Seong-ah, eyes wide with fury, tried to stop themâ
But Yoo Baek-jun stopped her with a look.
“Young master… What in the world…?”
As the guards dragged him away roughly, he passed by Ryu Il-woo.
“Ryu Il-woo, remember what I told you?”
“…Yeah.”
With that, Yoo Baek-jun was hauled off toward the castle by the guards.
The raid team watched his retreating back in stunned silence.
Ryu Il-woo let out a deep sigh.
‘Just thinking about explaining this later gives me a headache.’
Yoo Baek-jun had insisted on keeping the raid team in the dark for the sake of realism, telling them only afterward.
Seemed like it worked, though.
Sigh…
Worry crept inâwould this plan really succeed?
* * *
Events unfolded rapidly.
Yoo Baek-jun was taken to the castle at the city’s center, briefly imprisoned, Not long after, he was brought deeper into the castle.
“Is this the criminal?”
“Yes, my lord!”
Waiting for him were heavily armed knights and a pair of men and women seated on a high platform, looking down.
‘That man must be the lord, Lactus.’
The middle-aged blond man on the platform looked gaunt, almost emaciated.
He was Lactus, Lord of this city.
And beside him, a young woman.
“How dare an otherworldly wretch attack our cityâs soldiers! Execute him at once!”
‘The lordâs wife, Loraena.’
Young and beautiful.
Unlike the sickly-looking lord, her face brimmed with vitality.
âSheâs suspect number one for now.â
No one in this city should look that healthy under the influence of a dream demon.
She was suspicious, no doubt about it.
“Traveler from another world, you attacked a soldier as soon as you arrived in our city. What was your purpose?”
“Answer the lordâs question, criminal!”
“……”
Yoo Baek-jun stayed silent, observing the lord.
“My lord, you look exhausted.”
“What?”
“Havenât been sleeping well lately, have you?”
“What a strange question.”
The lord let out a hollow laugh.
Here he was, being interrogated, and the prisoner was asking him questions.
âAnswer, traveler from another world. You claim to have come to help solve the crisis of our worldâwhy then would you attack a soldier?â
“Well…”
Yoo Baek-jun trailed off.
“Felt like it?”
“Clearly, you have no intention of cooperating.”
The lord motioned to the soldiers.
“He might be a spy from another city. Find out his purpose. No violenceâweâll hold a trial tomorrow.”
“Yes, my lord!”
The soldiers approached Yoo Baek-jun one by one.
The lord glared coldly.
“Traveler, whatever your purpose is, you will talk eventually.”
“Just kill him, darling!”
“Calm down, Loraena.”
Yoo Baek-jun was dragged away by the soldiers and soon locked in a dungeon below.
“The lord said no violence, but that wonât do. Bring the tools!”
“Wait, he said no violâ”
What followed was interrogation. Brutal, but Yoo Baek-jun didnât talk.
“You stubborn bastard!”
“Spit! Weâll see you tomorrow.”
The soldiers left, promising to return later.
Now, Yoo Baek-jun was alone.
Drip… drip…
‘Finally over.’
The sound of water dripping echoed in the dark dungeon beneath the castle. Slowly, he lifted his head.
“Ugh…”
He glanced outside.
Since the city wasnât large, neither was the dungeon.
Only three guards were stationed there, with one watching his cell.
‘Well, Iâm inside the castle now.’
As a regular traveler, there was no way to enter the castle grounds.
Sneaking in was too difficultâunless he had high-level stealth skills, which he didnât.
So, change of plans: what if he was a criminal?
Thanks to his game knowledge, he knew this castle had a dungeon for prisoners.
‘Risky, but necessary.’
Even if it meant taking risks, the dream demon had to be dealt with quickly.
The longer they stayed in this city, the more their strength would be drained.
In the game, this was why Crimson Crusaders failed to clear this gate.
‘They wasted time helping villagers, trying to find the source of the crisis.’
Meanwhile, their strength was slowly sapped away, and when they were at their weakest, the dream demon struck.
The Result? Total defeat.
Half were devoured and died; the rest, including Ryu Il-woo, became the demonâs slaves.
‘Those enslaved hunters later joined the demon forces during the Great Invasion.’
This was exactly why ignoring Crimson Crusaders would cause problems later.
But this time, heâd stop it.
“Ugh… They hit hard.”
His face was bruised from the beatings during interrogation.
Well, heâd expected as much.
‘First, letâs scout the castle.’
Heâd brought stealth gear.
Without relevant skills or traits, it wouldnât be super effective, but careful movement should keep him hidden.
“Alright…”
He checked the cuffs on his wrists.
Special restraints that sealed magic and sapped physical strength.
Yoo Baek-jun opened a subspace and used a lockpick heâd prepared earlier to remove them.
‘The door… Canât just break it.’
A guard stood watch outside.
Waiting for the guard to leave, Yoo Baek-jun pulled out a scroll.
An area sleep scrollâit would knock out everyone nearby.
‘Come on, move already.’
He watched outside, waiting for the guard to return. When he didâ
“Mm… ugh…”
Yoo Baek-jun activated the scroll.
The guard staggered, then collapsed to the ground.
Fast asleep.
“Ugh… grr…”
Yoo Baek-jun took the keys from his belt and unlocked the door.
Click.
The locked door opened easily.
“You stay here.”
He laid the guard on the floor, disguising him as a prisoner, then stepped out.
The other guards were also asleep.
‘The castle has six above-ground floors. The top floor is where the lord and his wife reside.’
The most suspicious one was the lordâs wife.
Using his stealth gear, Yoo Baek-jun vanished and headed straight for the top floor.
It wasnât too difficult.
Whoosh…
“Huh? Dust here…”
He already knew the castleâs layout and the route to the top.
The only concerns were the soldiers and maids inside.
Like a ghost, Yoo Baek-jun ascended.
‘Lots of guards.’
As expected of the lordâs quartersâsecurity was tight.
But he didnât need to get close. He pulled out the Demon Godâs jar out of his coat.
Hmm…
The jar reacted.
The demonic energy grew stronger.
A demon was on this floor.
Its location? The lordâs chambers.
Save me I donât wanna hang from this cliff