Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 13

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 13

Hwa and I stood on a massive sparring arena, each side measuring 40 meters.

A man appeared, facing us.

A sturdy physique marred by a gruesome scar that cut across his right eye and cheek.
The fact that a warrior of his caliber, even in this modern age with advanced medicine, still bore such a scar suggested the kind of hell he had endured.

He opened his mouth.

“My name is Lee Jung-gwan.”

I couldn’t help but smile.

The same situation, the same scene as in my past life.

The only differences were Hwa, who was wary of me with venomous eyes, and myself, who had achieved so much more than in my previous life.

“From now on, I will be instructing you in the secrets of the Soongmoo Lee family. Choose your weapons and bring them here.”

At Lee Jung-gwan’s words, Hwa and I descended from the sparring arena and headed to the weapon rack.

There wasn’t a single wooden sword or bamboo sword to be found. Only real weapons with sharp edges.

I noticed Hwa looking at me with strange eyes.

“What are you looking at? Do you have something to say?”

“L-Looking? What am I looking at! What would I have to say!”

“If you don’t, you don’t. No need to shout.”

She looked like she had something to say, but I didn’t feel like pressing her.

Then, Hwa, who had been awkwardly hesitating, approached and opened her mouth.

“Hey, you use a sword too, right?”

Hwa whispered to me.

“No.”

“What? You were clearly using it during martial arts training……”

I ignored Hwa’s words and simply grabbed an armful of weapons and held them in my arms.

“Hey, hey! What are you doing!”

I didn’t answer and went straight back up to the sparring arena.

I could see Lee Jung-gwan’s brow furrowing as he watched me bring the weapons to the arena with difficulty.

“……What is the meaning of this?”

“You told me to choose my weapons and bring them, so I did.”

“I clearly said to bring the weapon you use.”

“These are what I use.”

From short daggers to long spears.

Twelve different types of weapons.

“I thought you weren’t stupid, but you’re just a moron.”

Lee Jung-gwan rolled his eyes, as if he couldn’t be bothered to say more.

Following me, Hwa also came up to the sparring arena.

“I hate repeating myself. Remember what I’m about to say.”

Lee Jung-gwan’s eyes passed over me and reached Hwa.

“I said I would teach you the secrets, but I’m not teaching you any specific techniques or stances. That’s not what you need to learn.”

Lee Jung-gwan took out the weapon he had been carrying on his back.

Kiiiing-

It was a steel spear that looked like it was made by weaving tree roots together. When he removed the leather sheath covering the spearhead, a strange resonance was heard.

The Saint-grade magic spear, Mok-ho.

“The Soongmoo Lee family has many secrets called Ooui [arcane techniques]. But all of them are not martial arts systematized into forms or techniques. They are just individual skills as they are.”

Words that were hard to understand in my past life.

But now I could understand.

His words continued.

“There are many conditions to learn those secrets, but the most basic and first is this: the ‘sense’ sleeping in your blood must be awakened.”

The bloodline of the Soongmoo Lee family is different from ordinary people from the very beginning.

Those who have inherited the blood of the Soongmoo Lee family are invariably born with three blessings, though the degree varies.

The first is a natural martial physique.

The second is the ability manifested through the Naming Ceremony.

And the third.

“Sixth sense. From now on, I will awaken your senses. Rather than learning martial arts bound by clumsy forms, it is enough for us who have inherited the blood of the Soongmoo Lee family to draw out the combat senses of our bodies.”

One step.

Lee Jung-gwan approached step by step.

“Whether it’s a secret technique, an Ooui, or a finishing move, you won’t even be able to start with the basic forms until you awaken that sense.”

“Why, why…… are you coming closer.”

Hwa took a step back without realizing it.

I silently threw the weapons I was holding all over the sparring arena and took out a long sword.

“Prepare yourself. Unless you want to pass out from the start.”

I said a word to Hwa, but Lee Jung-gwan was already rushing in.

“Don’t worry too much about awakening your sixth sense. Your bodies will naturally find the way anyway.”

A spear strike swung from the left.

To respond properly, you have to swing the blade sideways to deflect it.

But.

“Cough!”

Tearing-!

It was a counterattack that I knew in advance and prepared for, but I couldn’t even deflect a single blow properly.

As I floated in the air, I heard Lee Jung-gwan’s words.

“You blocked that?”

Could you even call that blocking it?

I felt like I was going to throw up because of the shock that had penetrated my internal organs.

“Well, I guess you’re not a complete idiot.”

“Kyaa, kyaak!”

Bang!

Hwa couldn’t withstand even one stab and passed out.

I was hoping she would buy me some time.

I couldn’t help but click my tongue inwardly.

‘I can’t believe I’m going to do this crazy thing again.’

I already knew this from my past life.

Lee Jung-gwan. He would wield his spear just enough to not kill me. Maybe he would be a little more excessive towards me, the bastard.

I suppressed the rising nausea and shone my eyes.

‘In my previous life, I didn’t even receive this training properly in the first place.’

I, who couldn’t even keep up with the group training, was kicked out after receiving training from Lee Jung-gwan only in the beginning.

So I just sat outside the sparring arena and watched the two of them miserably.

It will be different in this life.

Kwang-!

Lee Jung-gwan kicked off the ground.

I gritted my teeth and swung my sword.

* * *

Over a month had passed since the training with Lee Jung-gwan began.

Bang! Pow! Crack-!

Sounds of something breaking, exploding, and shattering were echoing in the sparring arena almost every day.

‘Damn it!’

I rolled on the ground to avoid the swinging spear strike and swung my sword wildly.

Pajik!

Damn it, the spear that I thought I had avoided suddenly appeared right in front of my nose.

The magic power amplified using amplification magic was shattered by a spear strike that didn’t contain even a single ounce of magic power.

And I was sent flying into the air by that spear strike and slammed into the ground.

“That was good.”

I endured the pain and hurriedly got up from my seat as the voice got closer. Lee Jung-gwan didn’t care that I was lying down and attacked me.

“Kkeureureureuk!”

Lee Jung-gwan’s movement stopped.

Because Hwa, who had been hit in the left chest with the spear shaft, started foaming at the mouth.

He frowned slightly and said.

“Contact the medical unit.”

“Kkeueuk, huff, huff. Yes, I understand.”

I staggered down to the sparring arena, took out my phone from my belongings, and contacted the medical unit.

As if they had been waiting, doctors rushed in and began to examine Hwa in less than 5 minutes.

“Her ribs are broken. In addition, her liver has been shocked, and her blood pressure and heart rate have dropped, causing difficulty in breathing.”

“Tsk, there are only a few bottles left…… Use a potion. How long will it take?”

The doctor wore a slightly bitter face.

From his point of view, he would want her to take absolute rest, but he knew that he couldn’t.

“Even if I use a potion, it will take 10 minutes.”

“10 minutes of rest.”

As soon as I heard his words, I sat down and lay down on the spot.

‘Damn it. This crazy training.’

Even so, training to the point of breaking bones and suffering internal injuries. It’s not training for a 10-year-old.

But I had no intention of complaining.

No, there’s no reason to complain.

Little by little.

I can see it little by little.

‘I can see the way.’

Often, when I concentrate a lot, I get caught up in a strange feeling.

If you swing like this.

If you move like this.

You can see something like that way. No, to be exact, I can feel it.

It’s still just a vague feeling, but I’m getting a sense of what that ‘sixth sense’ is.

“Whether you’re a bastard or legitimate, you’re all weak. You fall over as soon as you say you’re going to rest. The future of the family is bleak.”

Lee Jung-gwan sneered.

Just in time, Hwa opened her eyes wide.

“Heok!”

It was only 5 minutes, not even 10 minutes.

She looked around, not understanding the situation, and then looked at me.

“Don’t tell me again?”

“Yeah, you’re twenty-second. I’ve only done it sixteen times.”

“Eek! If I had prepared for the first day!”

Hwa took a deep breath and stood up with her sword.

Lee Jung-gwan smiled.

‘Not bad.’

He spoke harshly, but Lee Jung-gwan was actually feeling very satisfied.

‘Eighth Hwa. That child has great physical strength. I’ve been a little too rough, but she hasn’t suffered any serious injuries?’

He admired inwardly for a moment, then shifted his gaze to the side.

The real deal was over there.

‘And that bastard. I felt it on the first day, but…… he’s something. No wonder my subordinates felt like they were being evaluated. Situation judgment, strange magic…… and it seems like he’s hiding something.’

At first, I thought he was some kind of idiot when he came with an armful of weapons.

But his proficiency with each weapon was considerable, and his utilization was more than I expected.

I was even surprised by his unconventionality.

‘Besides, it seems like he’s already starting to see it little by little. It’s only been a month…… maybe his record will be broken.’

Lee Jung-gwan smiled and began to swing his spear even more fiercely.

* * *

The moment came naturally.

There wasn’t anything particularly big that changed.

The ambiguous feeling became clearer and turned into conviction.

“Hey.”

I called Hwa.

Hwa looked at me, breathing heavily.

“I’ll give you a signal, so block it just once.”

“Why would I?”

“Well, if you don’t want to, forget it. I was just saying that I might be able to land a hit on Uncle [referring to Lee Jung-gwan].”

Murdery intent swirled in Hwa’s eyes.

I guess she’s really pissed off too.

Her eyes change with just one word that she can land a hit.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

“You owe me one!”

Hwa took a deep breath.

I was the one who ran first.

The spear strikes that I had been feeling and avoiding with my senses until now. But that sense became certain.

‘Right here.’

I twisted my body and dodged the spear as if grazing it.

‘Roll on the ground and stab with the spear.’

It’s a strange feeling.

My body moves as I think.

My will is directed to every single muscle fiber.

“Hoo.”

Lee Jung-gwan’s eyes shone.

I picked up the spear that was rolling on the ground and swung it as it was.

Kagaak!

Sparks flew as metal collided with each other.

Immediately after this, Lee Jung-gwan’s counterattack was sure to follow.

I momentarily glanced at Hwa.

“Iyaaak!”

Her expression was displeased, but Hwa’s eyes were shining properly.

For a moment.

It was really a fleeting moment, but there was a clear gap.

I threw away the spear I was swinging and grabbed the sword next to it.

The training with my aunt that didn’t stop even after this hellish training was over.

It wasn’t perfect, but I had already grasped the thread of the 2-star realm.

Wuoong-.

The sword I got from Mujin.

Cheokma.

The magic power that had been enlarged with amplification magic was stably transmitted to the sword.

Taking advantage of that fleeting gap, my sword was swung under Lee Jung-gwan’s chin.

“……!”

Lee Jung-gwan’s expression distorted.

At the same time, he hurriedly pulled out his spear to block my sword.

It doesn’t matter if it’s blocked.

This attack was a feint in the first place.

Hwaak!

I let go of the sword that was bouncing off and plunged into Lee Jung-gwan’s arms and stretched out my fist.

“Heup!”

Lee Jung-gwan’s pupils widened.

‘This one’s going in!’

Tueoeeong-!

A sound of metal colliding with metal and breaking was heard.

I doubted my eyes as I looked at my fist.

‘You blocked that?’

Woojik!

At that moment, I felt a terrible pain in my abdomen.

Lee Jung-gwan’s other hand.

Why is that touching my stomach?

“Kkeueueuk!”

“Congratulations. It seems you’ve awakened.”

Lee Jung-gwan nodded with a satisfied expression.

‘Damn it, if you’re going to congratulate me, why did you hit me at the end!’

I clutched my stomach and tried to suppress my groans.

“That’s the sixth sense. But you’re still clumsy. If your senses were always on edge, you should have been able to avoid that blow just now.”

Lee Jung-gwan’s demeanor had changed slightly.

Unlike the sarcastic tone he had been using until now, it was a serious tone.

“37 days. To be honest, it was amazing. I heard that even the firstborn Myung-jung took 45 days. As I expected, you were faster than him.”

At those words, I forgot the pain and stared blankly at Lee Jung-gwan.

At that moment.

“You’re still far off.”

“Kyaak!”

Hwaak-! Kwang!

Hwa, who had been attacking as if trying to surprise me, was countered as it was and thrown to the ground.

“Training is over for today.”

Lee Jung-gwan said that and ended the training about an hour earlier than usual.

I sat blankly and replayed the situation that had just happened.

“I trusted you! You bastard!”

Hwa rubbed her hit shoulder and shouted with annoyance.

Lee Jung-gwan left the training ground and quietly looked at his palm.

There was a small bruise on his palm.

‘In the end, even though I raised my magic power…… was it pierced a little?’

It was only a small amount, but he broke the ban he had placed on himself not to use magic power.

It was a moment that exceeded expectations.

That level of combat sense. It was too outstanding to have simply awakened the sixth sense.

‘Besides, the idea of giving up that level of skill.’

If a child of that age had that level of swordsmanship, they would want to show it off, but he cherished it until the very end, and eventually gave it up.

He was an incomprehensible child.

With that magic power whose level could not be guessed.

With the swordsmanship that wouldn’t be surprising even if it was a family’s Ooui.

And even the scheme to throw it all away in an instant.

‘A sprout is showing. If he grows up like this, well, he might become someone that the family’s old farts would be horrified by.’

Lee Jung-gwan shook his arms and smiled.

* * *

Hwa awakened her sixth sense on the 47th day of training.

At that point, Lee Jung-gwan ended the training. He gave them time to rest and focus on reviewing what they had learned.

I took a good rest and continued my magic research with my aunt.

And that day came.

The Naming Ceremony(作名式) [a ritual to formally recognize and empower an individual].