Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 2

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 2

The Lee Clan, Esteemed Warriors (崇武李家) [A family renowned for their martial prowess and adherence to warrior traditions].

The direct descendants of the Lee Clan are born with unique powers.

This extraordinary ability (異能) [Refers to a special, often innate, power or talent] only manifests in those with a strong lineage to the Lee Clan.

Every child of the Esteemed Warriors Lee Clan awakens their abilities through a special coming-of-age ceremony called the ‘Naming Ceremony’ when they turn ten years old.

In other words, a child of the Lee Clan who hasn’t undergone the Naming Ceremony is merely an ordinary child with a slightly more special physique.

‘Could it be that I’ve awakened?’

Even knowing it was impossible, I couldn’t help but mutter those words.

What happened just now felt too real; the sensation of mana swirling within my body was too distinct.

‘Let’s try to control it.’

I pride myself on knowing more magic techniques than anyone else.

In my previous life, I tried desperately to use my damned body even a little.

Back then, I delved into everything from low-grade street magic to back-alley magic, and even the clan’s magic that I was authorized to learn.

But.

‘It’s different.’

My body… is different.

My past body had abnormally twisted mana pathways, but the state of my mana pathways now is completely different.

Perhaps it’s because I’m still a baby, but my mana pathways are so ordinary that I can’t believe it’s my original body.

My head cooled down.

The doctor’s words echoed in my mind about my unique constitution, which had no precedent.

I didn’t know if it was congenital or acquired.

‘Did someone tamper with my body?’

The clan’s political structure flashed through my mind.

A bastard from outside the family.

Despite that, I received attention from those around me since the Iron Thread Ceremony.

To those in power within the clan, I must have been a thorn in their side.

Many faces immediately come to mind.

Lady Baek, the clan’s mistress, my half-siblings, the elders, and even the heads of the branch families and vassal clans.

‘Come to think of it, it didn’t add up.’

It doesn’t make sense that my unique constitution wasn’t discovered for so long, from the Iron Thread Ceremony to the Naming Ceremony and beyond.

Someone attacked me.

Severing the root. A common tactic to eliminate future rivals.

‘A curse, a spell, or perhaps poison?’

That such a thing could happen to my body while the Spirit Inspection Unit was guarding me…

‘…Damn it.’

I felt my head burning up.

How much did I suffer because of that damned mana in my past life?

After a moment of contemplation, I took a long breath.

‘Haa, even if I worry, there are no clear clues. More importantly…’

For the first time since my regression, I observed my mana pathways and thought.

‘What… is this?’

A black aura lingered at my fingertips.

Not mana, but an unknown energy.

Something unidentified that didn’t exist in my previous life had appeared within my body.

I glanced at the nanny and then aimlessly crawled around the room, touching various things.

Nothing happened.

The last thing left… was the decorative ceremonial sword hanging on the wall behind the sofa.

“……”

I looked back and forth between my height, the sofa, and the ceremonial sword hanging on the wall, about two meters up.

‘Nanny, just doze off a little longer.’

I started struggling to climb onto the sofa.

Climbing onto the sofa, which was just over a meter high, exhausted all my strength.

If I were an ordinary child, it would have been impossible to climb.

It seems that the strong bloodline of the Esteemed Warriors Lee Clan and moving my body to relieve boredom after regression helped.

‘Got it.’

I carefully placed my hand on the ceremonial sword.

Crack-

A sound like metal breaking.

The black aura from before stretched out and enveloped the ceremonial sword.

And once again, unfamiliar memories flashed before my eyes.

A warrior raising his sword.

Numerous warriors raised their weapons in unison to the rhythmic shouts.

An outdated etiquette of the clan that is rarely practiced now.

With that, the memory abruptly ended.

I staggered for a moment.

I almost fell off the sofa. I desperately supported myself with my arms and stared blankly into the air.

‘This is, could it be…’

A fragment of black energy fluttered and flew from my fingertip.

When I clenched my fist again, the fragment of energy disappeared.

* * *

As the days passed, I moved my body more and spent more time awake.

It was noticeable how much I grew each time I woke up.

And the special day that had been scheduled arrived.

The Iron Thread Ceremony.

The important ceremony where I would take the first step in my life within the clan was waiting for me.

The nanny bustled about from morning, adorning me.

She meticulously prepared everything, from my clothes and accessories to every strand of hair.

I leaned comfortably against the nanny so she could prepare easily without me fidgeting.

“Young Master, you will have good results. Your future will always be bright.”

Logically, she should know that a baby can’t understand her, but the nanny always talked to me.

I felt the sincere encouragement and deep pity in her words.

‘Well, it makes sense.’

I am a bastard left to the clan without any backing.

My other siblings receive special treatment from the womb, such as mana injections, elixir infusions, and secret rituals.

On the other hand, I had to undergo the ceremony without even absorbing a common elixir.

‘Don’t worry, Nanny.’

I stroked the nanny’s cheek.

The nanny’s eyes widened, and then she smiled brightly.

At that moment, Chief Butler Choi approached from behind.

“The nanny will follow directly behind the Lord to the ceremony hall. When it is the Young Master’s turn, hand him over to the Lord.”

“Yes.”

At Chief Butler Choi’s words, the nanny hugged me tightly as if nervous.

I turned my head and looked at the man standing in front.

The head of the Lee Clan, Lee Tae-shin.

A 1st-class warrior, one of only ten in the world, and a powerhouse said to be in a different league even among those 1st-class warriors.

‘Father…’

I didn’t have many encounters with my father in my previous life.

Even when I did see him, he never glanced at me.

At that moment, my father’s eyes turned to me.

I didn’t avoid his gaze and stared back.

“Interesting.”

A strange light flickered in my father’s eyes as he looked down at me with an expressionless face.

* * *

Behind my father followed my eighth sister, who was only a few months younger than me, her nanny, and me with my nanny.

Whoosh-!

Passing through the arched corridor, a circular plaza appeared. Numerous people in the stands surrounding the plaza were looking down at me.

People gathered under the name of the Esteemed Warriors Lee Clan, including branch families and vassal clans (家臣家) [Families that pledge allegiance and service to the main clan].

All of them were there to witness the birth of a newly born direct descendant of the Esteemed Warriors Lee Clan.

“Loyalty!”

“Loyalty!”

Thud!

Hundreds of warriors lined up in front of Lee Tae-shin.

A perfectly synchronized formation.

The weapons they raised to the sky were all different in shape.

Although they were lined up according to the type of weapon, each of them held slightly different weapons.

The Iron Etiquette (鐵禮) [A formal display of respect using actual weapons], called the specialty of the Lee Clan.

It was a unique ceremony of the Esteemed Warriors Lee Clan that expressed respect with their actual weapons, rather than decorating with formalities using ceremonial weapons that would never be used.

“Hmm.”

Click-!

At Lee Tae-shin’s short nod, the warriors who had been lined up stepped back one by one, opening a path.

Lee Tae-shin strode towards the ritual site standing tall in the center of the plaza.

Hundreds of weapons were stuck into the floor of the ritual site.

From basic weapons such as swords, sabers, and spears to gauntlets, staffs, bows, and firearms.

The fact that most of the weapons were masterpieces (名作) [Exceptional and highly valued weapons] implied the power of the Esteemed Warriors Lee Clan.

Lee Tae-shin, who had entered the ritual site, looked around the audience once and declared in a low voice.

“I will now begin the Iron Thread Ceremony. Give me Hwa.”

“Yes.”

The eighth sister’s nanny carefully handed the eighth sister to her father.

In the center of the ritual site, which was open on all sides, was a huge rock with a hollow carved out to fit a child.

Lee Tae-shin placed the eighth sister in the hollow and held up a dagger.

“Wah-!”

When the dagger slightly cut the eighth sister’s fingertip, a few drops of blood fell from the opened skin onto the rock.

At that moment.

Woo-oong-!

Blue light burst forth from the platform, spreading like a spider web towards numerous weapons.

And all the light gathered in one place.

“Oh! That sword, could it be?”

Everyone cheered.

A white sword emitting light.

I knew that sword well too.

‘Ivory Sword (象牙劍) [A sword of exceptional quality and significance]. That’s right. The eighth sister was chosen by the Ivory Sword.’

A masterpiece among masterpieces that had not responded for generations.

The Ivory Sword is a sacred object (聖物) [An item of great spiritual or historical importance] level.

Moreover, it is a masterpiece located at the top of the sacred object level.

In the distant future, people gave her the grandiose title of White Night (白夜) [A title signifying purity and power], as she wielded the Ivory Sword and single-handedly mowed down hordes of monsters.

Whoosh-!

When Lee Tae-shin waved his hand in the air, the Ivory Sword flew to the front of the platform as if it had wings.

‘How much mana does he have to be able to do that?’

It was a distance of nearly 15 meters. Moreover, if it was the Ivory Sword, called a sacred sword, it would have considerable mana resistance, yet he pulled it with a single gesture.

I couldn’t even fathom what level he had to be to do something like that.

“Ivory Sword. It’s a good sword.”

After uttering a simple impression, Lee Tae-shin continued.

“The Ivory Sword is now Hwa’s.”

After declaring that, my father came down from the platform and handed the eighth sister to her nanny.

A bodyguard who followed behind received the Ivory Sword.

Now it was my turn.

“Young Master, you must do well.”

The nanny whispered very quietly in my ear and respectfully handed me over to my father.

“I will begin Yeong’s ceremony.”

Soon, the dagger was inevitably drawn on my hand as well.

‘Ugh.’

Perhaps it’s because it’s a baby’s body. It wasn’t cut very deep, but it hurt as if I had been burned.

Perhaps because I didn’t cry, my father said in an emotionless tone.

“Commendable.”

The first praise I had ever heard was for not crying.

Just as I was feeling bitter, a few drops of blood fell.

My Iron Thread Ceremony is also beginning.

‘Will it be Clear Voice (淸聲) [A sword known for its pure and resonant sound] again this time?’

In the past, the weapon I was chosen by was the highest-grade heavenly (天上) [Of the highest quality or rank] level sword, Clear Voice.

Woo-oong-.

Blue light spread out into the open space.

And the moment the light burst out from the open space, silence fell over the ritual site.