I Became the Successor of the Martial God Chapter 95

I Became the Successor of the Martial God

Chapter 95.

Yoo Jung-yeon entered the room and saw Yoo Baek-jun’s face.  

His complexion was deathly pale, and he was drenched in cold sweat.  

“Are you sick?”  

“No, I’m fine.”  

“Really? You don’t look fine.”  

No one except Choi Seung-min and Han Seong-ah knew that Yoo Baek-jun was ill.  

There was no benefit in letting others know.  

Yoo Jung-yeon sat down beside Yoo Baek-jun.  

“I saw you yesterday. I thought all that talk about you being a hero was exaggerated, but I guess I was wrong.”  

“Others probably thought the same.”  

“Those who were with you in Seoul, like Yoo Min, didn’t seem to think so.”  

A faint smile appeared on Yoo Jung-yeon’s lips.  

“They were right.”  

Yoo Baek-jun looked at Yoo Jung-yeon’s face.  

She must have something else to say, but why was she beating around the bush?  

“Sister, let’s get straight to the point. You came here because you had something to say, right?”  

“…….”  

Yoo Jung-yeon fiddled with the teacup Choi Seung-min had handed her, lost in thought.  

After a long hesitation, she finally spoke.  

“There’s something I want to ask you.”  

“Sure, go ahead.”  

“I can’t trust the people around me.”  

“Why?”  

Yoo Jung-yeon glanced at Yoo Baek-jun.  

“Who do you think made me like this?”  

It was him.  

He had told her to distrust her closest aides.  

“So?”  

“Do you trust the people close to you?”  

“You mean Choi Seung-min and Han Seong-ah?”  

Joo Jung-won was also close, but those two were undoubtedly her inner circle.  

Yoo Baek-jun hesitated briefly.  

‘Because I’ve played a lot of games.’  

The reason he trusted them was because countless playthroughs had shown they were trustworthy.  

Of course, that wasn’t something he could say out loud.  

“Yes, I trust them.”  

“How?”  

“I’m just good at judging people.”  

“…….”  

If it were anyone else, they would’ve scoffed and asked what nonsense he was spouting.  

But this was the world of Heroes Road, a game where monsters, hunters, and supernatural abilities existed.  

‘Does he have some special ability?’  

Naturally, she misunderstood.  

Yoo Baek-jun could easily guess what Yoo Jung-yeon was thinking as she pursed her lips.  

‘Yoo Min said it. That Yoo Baek-jun… moves as if he can predict the future.’  

Yoo Jung-yeon stared into Yoo Baek-jun’s eyes.  

Some hunters possessed special eyes—so-called ‘magic eyes.‘  

Among them were eyes that could see the future or distinguish good from evil.  

“No way.”  

“What do you mean?”  

“Huh? No, nothing.”  

Yoo Jung-yeon shook her head and sipped her tea, trying to calm her flustered mind.  

Yoo Baek-jun noticed her misunderstanding and quickly changed the subject.  

“Keep an eye on the Intelligence Department.”  

“The Intelligence Department? Why?”  

“Do you think Yoo Tae-rang’s influence only extends to your inner circle? He’s been killing successors and absorbing their factions to grow his power.”  

Yoo Jung-yeon’s face turned cold.  

“You can’t mean the family’s Intelligence Department—?”  

“Not all of them are under Yoo Tae-rang, but it’s highly likely that key figures there are loyal to him.”  

“Wait! The Intelligence Department isn’t supposed to interfere in the succession battle!”  

“Rules?”  

Yoo Baek-jun sneered.  

“What good are rules after everyone’s dead? Once Yoo Tae-rang becomes the family head, there’ll be no one left to challenge him.”  

“……!”  

Yoo Jung-yeon gasped.  

“Sister, right now, Yoo Tae-rang sees me as his biggest threat. I’m like a thorn in his side.”  

“That’s… true.”  

“To him, I’m an enigma. He’ll try every means possible to dissect and understand me.”  

Yoo Jung-yeon nodded.  

She knew that was Yoo Tae-rang’s nature. Though he could be flexible, he was fundamentally cautious.  

“Watch the Intelligence Department. Sooner or later, someone will make a move. They’ll be Yoo Tae-rang’s pawns, and if you follow them—”  

Tap! 

Yoo Baek-jun set down his teacup.  

“You’ll get a rough idea of who’s an ally and who’s an enemy.”  

Silence fell.  

After a long moment of contemplation, Yoo Jung-yeon exhaled deeply and stood up.  

“One last question, Baek-jun.”  

“Yes, Sister.”  

“Yoon Ye-bin… can I trust her?”  

“No.”  

Yoo Baek-jun answered firmly.  

“There’s a high chance she’ll betray you.”  

“How can you be so sure?”  

“You’re already suspicious of her—that’s why you’re asking me, right?”  

Yoo Jung-yeon stayed silent.  

Because it was true.  

“You’ll find out if you investigate the Intelligence Department.”  

“This is amusing. It’s like you’re prophesying the future.”  

Yoo Jung-yeon smiled and turned away.  

“I never thought I’d feel so alone within my own family.”  

“Hang in there, Sister.”  

“…I’ll visit again later.”  

With those words, she left.  

Left in the room were Yoo Baek-jun, Seol-yeong , and Choi Seung-min, who looked oddly moved.  

“What’s with that face?”  

“Nothing. Sniff, I just feel proud to have served you since you were young.”  

“Uh, well. I guess?”  

He seemed happy that Yoo Baek-jun trusted him.  

Yoo Baek-jun clicked his tongue.  

‘It’d be harsh to say Yoo Tae-rang has no use for you.’  

From Yoo Tae-rang’s perspective, a mere attendant like Choi Seung-min wasn’t worth recruiting.  

But even if he tried, Choi Seung-min wouldn’t have betrayed Yoo Baek-jun anyway.  

—Whimper!  

“Yeah, yeah. I trust you too.”  

—Awooo!  

Seol-yeong kept nudging Yoo Baek-jun’s upper body, as if telling him to lie down already.  

“Ugh, fine. I’ll rest for a bit—”  

“Oh, right, Young Master! About that student from Myeongseong High School, Min Hye-yeon, you mentioned before…”  

“Ugh.”  

Yoo Baek-jun, who was about to lie down, sat back up.  

“She’s in a coma.”  

“Oh…”  

So it’s that route.  

Well, it’s not too bad. This route allows him to clear the World Tree event alongside it.  

“I’ll visit soon. Good job.”  

“Yes. Ah, I’ll clean up if you’re done.”  

As Choi Seung-min gathered the dishes, Han Seong-ah entered.  

She approached Yoo Baek-jun quickly.  

“Young Master.”  

“What’s the matter?”  

“Song Dae-san is in critical condition.”  

“…….”  

Song Dae-san, the guild master of the Golden Lion.  

A man who had endured this nation’s turbulent times. He had been ill for a while, but ‘critical condition‘ meant his life was hanging by a thread.  

“This is an opportunity.”  

“Hmm.”  

The Golden Lion Guild would be shaken.  

Yoo Baek-jun wondered how that could benefit him.

He let out a deep sigh.  

“Looks like I’ll be visiting the hospital a lot.”  

Even though he was sick himself.  

“I wish life could be easier…”  

* * *  

The next day.  

“I wish life could be easier, but it’s not happening.”  

“Huh? What did you say?”  

“Nothing. Is this the hospital?”  

“Yes, Young Master.”  

Yoo Baek-jun had come to Seoul.  

He wanted to meet Song Dae-san before he died—the funeral was scheduled for the day after tomorrow.  

They stood before a large hospital in Seoul.  

“The security’s tight.”  

“Since the former guild master of the Golden Lion is here, they’re extra cautious.”  

“Looks more like a fortress.”  

True to his words, the hospital was heavily guarded, with hunters stationed everywhere.  

Yoo Baek-jun stopped at the entrance.  

“…….”  

“…….”  

The hunters eyed him warily—but only briefly. Their expressions soon relaxed.  

“Ah, Y-Yoo Baek-jun!”  

“Yoo Baek-jun?”  

They recognized him.  

“Yoo Baek-jun?”  

“Who’s that?”  

“You know, the guy who’s always on TV lately…”  

Nearby people began murmuring.  

The hunter at the entrance looked embarrassed, and Yoo Baek-jun excused himself before quickly entering the hospital.  

“People recognize you now, Young Master.”  

“Is that a good thing?”  

“That’s… debatable.”  

It was a mixed blessing.  

Personally, he preferred when people didn’t recognize him—it made moving around easier.  

The hospital was crowded, filled with those injured during the Great Invasion.  

“Hey, that’s…”  

“That guy over there…”  

“I thought it was just camera angles, but…”  

Yoo Baek-jun stood out even inside the hospital. Covering his face, he hurried toward the elevator.  

“What’s this? Feels like I’m a celebrity or something.”  

“Are you happy about it?”  

“Would you be happy, Han Seong-ah?”  

Han Seong-ah stayed silent.  

They took the elevator to the top floor—the VIP ward.  

Unsurprisingly, there were guards, but getting past them wasn’t difficult.  

“Please wait here. Someone else is visiting Song Dae-san right now.”  

“Is he conscious?”  

“No, he’s unconscious.”  

The guard looked somber.  

“I heard his condition is critical.”  

“Yes, he hasn’t been conscious lately, so proper conversation isn’t possible.”  

“Then I’ll just pay my respects.”  

Yoo Baek-jun leaned back in his chair.  

The VIP ward was practically reserved for Song Dae-san alone, so it was eerily quiet.  

“Young Master, may I ask you something?”  

“What is it?”  

As he blankly stared at the ceiling, Han Seong-ah suddenly spoke up.  

“About Instructor Shin Woo-hyun. Was it really necessary to kill him like that?”  

“You think so?”  

“Yes.”  

It was a fair question.  

There were two main reasons why Yoo Baek-jun had dragged Shin Woo-hyun out and executed him publicly.  

‘First, to buy time.’  

He needed to show that ‘Yoo Baek-jun’ was different now.  

Yoo Tae-rang would spend time wondering what had happened in those two months, why Yoo Baek-jun had changed, and whether he should be wary of him.  

That hesitation would buy Yoo Baek-jun time.  

‘Second, to prevent Shin Woo-hyun from being used by Yoo Tae-rang.’  

If Shin Woo-hyun had lived, the Sword Saint family’s interrogation specialists would’ve taken over.  

Unlike Ho-yeon, other interrogators might be under Yoo Tae-rang’s influence.  

They could fabricate testimonies or create scapegoats as he pleased.  

“Well, you’ll understand in time.”  

But he didn’t explain further.  

After a long pause, the VIP ward’s door opened.  

An elderly man stepped out—likely a corporate chairman who owed Song Dae-san a great debt.  

“You may go in now.”  

“Thank you.”  

Leaving Han Seong-ah outside, Yoo Baek-jun entered alone.  

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of death.  

The oppressive silence of an intensive care unit weighed heavily.  

“…Yoo Baek-jun.”  

Yoon Song-ha was there.  

She bowed slightly, startled. Behind her lay an emaciated old man.  

‘He shouldn’t be this old yet.’  

Years of battling illness had aged him far beyond his years.  

Compared to the muscular, robust Song Dae-san of the past, the difference was stark.  

‘Wow, he’s really withered.’  

Yoo Baek-jun approached the bed and discreetly checked his status window.  

[Song Dae-san]  

Strength: D 

Agility: D  

Stamina: F 

Magic power: D  

[Unique Ability: Golden Will (A)]  

[Traits: Curse Affliction (S), Shadow of Death (A), Frail (A), Prediction (C), ….]  

His stats were a mess.  

The Curse Affliction had drastically reduced all his attributes and added numerous negative traits.  

‘He won’t last more than a few days.’  

His life force was nearly depleted. 

Yoo Baek-jun was certain death was imminent.  

“It was a curse?”  

“Yes. The guild has exhausted all means to lift it, but nothing worked.”  

“I see.”  

The Golden Lion Guild had been inactive during the Great Invasion.  

Now he knew why.  

‘What did he do to get cursed?’  

If he remembered correctly, the curse came from an incredibly powerful boss monster.  

Song Dae-san had faced it alone to protect his guild members and ended up cursed.  

‘That monster appears later, right?’  

Yoo Baek-jun sighed inwardly.  

‘I should prepare just in case.’  

Once cursed, there was little one could do—but before that, countermeasures existed.  

Yoo Baek-jun sat down.  

“Would you like some tea?”  

“Ah, that’d be nice.”  

As Yoon Song-ha turned to fetch the tea, Yoo Baek-jun’s eyes flashed.  

Swish! 

His hand moved like lightning, slipping a small pill into Song Dae-san’s mouth.  

“Here you go. I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing.”  

“No, it’s fine—”  

Yoo Baek-jun sipped the tea while looking at Song Dae-san’s face.  

“I don’t think it’ll be for nothing.”  

Song Dae-san opened his eyes.