Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 157

Weapon-Devouring Bastard – Episode 157

The outskirts of Black Root Village.

We were guided to a vacant house to stay in.

“Ugh… the ceiling is low.”

Ron and I were quite tall, so our heads almost touched the ceiling.

We had to bend or crane our necks when passing through areas with ledges or decorations.

“Let’s talk for a bit.”

At my words, Ron casually put down his luggage and sat across from me at the table in the living room of our lodging.

I placed the wax doll we had encountered outside the village on the table.

“First, I’ll explain the situation I encountered. Then tell me what you experienced.”

I shared the events and conversations that occurred during the battle.

Ron’s expression twisted as my explanation concluded.

“Are you saying it’s a doll with a self-aware consciousness?”

“Or perhaps it shared a soul with someone.”

That strange sensation I felt with my Mana Eyes…

It was something I had never encountered before.

I held out the doll to Ron.

“…Is something like that even possible?”

“We’ll have to get the details from the dwarves first.”

I had someone in mind who might know, but I couldn’t make a hasty judgment.

“A certain force is targeting us… or rather, I suppose not.”

“Right, they’re targeting this village.”

“Come to think of it, the humans I subdued said something similar. They asked why we were suddenly interfering with them…”

Ron trailed off, glancing out the window and lowering his voice as he asked, “But Heir Lee Cheol, even as their comrades were being attacked, why didn’t the dwarves come out to help?”

“Maybe this has been happening for a while.”

“Yes?”

“It seems they’ve been targeted for quite some time. This village, perhaps…”

Ron’s expression distorted at my words.

* * *

Hurundart followed Baher’s guidance toward the center of the village.

Hurundart frowned slightly at the sight of the village as he walked.

‘Everyone’s expressions are terrible.’

The faces of the villagers were filled with gloom. They even looked depressed.

He was curious, but Hurundart didn’t bother asking.

‘I’ll hear the story when we’re alone anyway.’

Including the atmosphere of the village and the story of those outside the village.

Hurundart was soon guided to Baher’s residence.

Sitting face to face in the dimly lit house, Baher calmly began to speak.

“Brother, may I ask you a favor?”

“I don’t know why you’re dragging it out like that with the question you’re going to ask! Speak comfortably!”

“I want the Voice of the Earth [a solemn oath among dwarves].”

Hurundart’s eyebrows twitched.

The Voice of the Earth.

Like the Goblin’s Oath, it was a word that dwarves spoke with their souls on the line.

Because it was a word that risked their very existence, it should not be uttered lightly, nor should it be heard lightly.

“I’m not wary of you. But the story I’m about to tell is intertwined with the safety of the village.”

“Well, it might be difficult to speak the Voice of the Earth to other races, but what’s so hard about doing it to a fellow dwarf? Fine. I’ll do it.”

Hurundart hesitated for a moment, but soon nodded coolly.

Immediately, Hurundart cleared his throat a few times and slowly opened his mouth.

-There will be no lies or deceit in my words.

Hurundart’s mouth was merely open; his lips and tongue did not move.

But the earth vibrated, and such words echoed through the space.

This was the ‘Voice of the Earth.’

Baher nodded as if relieved to hear the voice.

“Thank you. Then may I ask a few questions?”

-Ask as you please.

“Why did you and the two humans come to our village?”

-To create a spear shaft for a certain spear. It’s for that black-haired human’s spear.

“I see. Then it’s safe to assume that you don’t intend to harm the property or residents of Black Root Village?”

-Of course. Do you think I would bring someone who would harm my fellow dwarves?

Baher paused and pondered for a moment.

Then, gazing intently at Hurundart, he said, “Brother, may I trust those two humans? I would like to hear your opinion.”

Hurundart’s eyes widened at the question.

Trust, huh…

‘Of course, you have to trust him.’

It’s Lee Cheol, no other human.

Even if I didn’t trust all the humans in the world, I could trust that kid.

‘Well, this brother doesn’t know that guy, so I guess he can’t help it.’

Hurundart recalled Lee Cheol from Mire Village.

He had the tenacity and fighting spirit to never give up, even while suffering internal injuries and losing consciousness in a wrestling match against 100 goblins.

Even in a battle against a Great Demon where he could have died, he took up arms without hesitation for the sake of the Mystic races.

In his long life, Hurundart had never seen such a human… no, such *anyone*.

-Of course. I trust that human as much as I trust my own kin.

“Huh…”

Baher’s eyes widened.

The Voice of the Earth is absolute to dwarves.

To utter those words meant that they were genuine, stemming from the soul.

“Is he… that important? Still, isn’t he just a human?”

“If you said that where I live, you might get stoned [a severe form of disapproval].”

“I see. If a fellow dwarf says so, then I can trust him.”

“You’ll trust him too once you get to know that kid. Hahaha!”

Hurundart burst into hearty laughter.

Then, he stopped laughing and gazed intently at Baher.

“Now it’s your turn to explain. By the way, my throat’s a bit dry after using the Voice of the Earth for the first time in a while.”

“Haha, here I am, not even offering a drink to my fellow dwarf.”

Baher poured two glasses of stout from a large oak barrel.

To dwarves, alcohol was like tea to humans. A conversation without alcohol was no conversation at all.

“Actually, we let those two humans into the village because we saw them with you. If that weren’t the case, we wouldn’t have trusted them.”

“Hmm, why is that?”

“Our village has been under attack by humans since two years ago.”

Hurundart’s eyes widened.

“Are you talking about those bastards in front of the village?”

“That’s right. We’re being attacked by those unidentified humans. No, to be precise, we’re being kidnapped. Those guys rush at us as soon as we go outside the village and capture us.”

Hurundart’s eyes blazed with anger.

“Capture? Are they taking hostages?”

“…That’s right.”

“Have you just been letting those wretched bastards get away with it! I’ll go right now and smash their heads with a hammer…!”

Baher sighed deeply.

“Of course, we didn’t just let them get away with it. We fought back too. But… strangely, we couldn’t use our powers when we faced them.”

“Couldn’t use your powers? What does that mean?”

“Just as it sounds. The earth didn’t respond to our call.”

Dwarves can draw on the power of the earth as naturally as breathing.

There is a clear difference in the amount of power that can be drawn, but all dwarves can use the power of the earth without exception.

It was as natural as breathing and blinking.

“I don’t know why either. Since then, we’ve tried various methods, but more and more of our kin are getting hurt and captured. As the village chief… I couldn’t bear to watch my people get hurt anymore.”

“What’s their reason for taking your kin?”

“I don’t know. I only know that they never kill them… Already, more than twenty residents have been captured. And every day, they bring two people to the front of the village, trying to lure us out.”

“That’s… been going on for two years?”

Baher didn’t answer Hurundart’s question, instead picking up his beer glass and gulping it down.

Only then could Hurundart understand the strange atmosphere he had sensed from the dwarves in the village.

* * *

When night fell, we were invited to Baher’s house, led by Hurundart.

Despite being an invitation from the village chief, the food on the table was meager.

Thin corn soup, a few potatoes, salad, boiled eggs, milk, and beer.

It was a table setting that could not be considered a dwarf’s meal, as they typically enjoyed meat like goblins.

Still, as guests, Ron and I gratefully finished the meal and were soon able to hear the whole story from Baher.

The current situation of Black Root Village.

Including the story of the external enemies.

Baher finished the story and bowed his head.

“Once again, thank you so much for saving those two children. They are the only children who have returned from those who were captured.”

“It’s nothing. We just did what we had to do.”

Baher smiled bitterly.

“I’d like to repay this debt by making the spear shaft you want right away… but I’m sorry that I can’t do that right now because of the situation.”

“I didn’t do it necessarily expecting something in return, but is there any reason you can’t?”

“Those who attack the village have occupied our workshop.”

At those words, I frowned.

For dwarves, who are called the race of artisans, the workshop is a very important space.

To exaggerate a bit, it’s a space that is almost sacred.

The fact that such a place has been taken away…

‘I can understand the dwarves’ helplessness in the village.’

Ron listened calmly and clenched his fist.

Then, he looked at me with burning eyes.

‘Are you going to stand still?’

His eyes seemed to be saying that.

As expected, he’s full of justice.

In my past life, he was also famous for serving the citizens without sparing his own life.

In fact, this matter here has nothing to do with Ron at all.

I nodded at Ron’s gaze and looked at Baher.

“If we can just get the workshop back, can we make the spear shaft again?”

“Well, yes… but…”

“Then we’ll help you.”

Even if it’s not for justice like Ron, we eventually have to get the workshop back to make the spear shaft.

‘Besides….’

The puppeteer who handled that wax doll, and the stories that organization told.

It bothers me in many ways.

I wanted to find out for myself.

Baher shook his head at my words.

“No. There’s no need for you to suffer any losses. They are people who wield strange powers. If young boys like you get hurt trying to help us, how much…”

“It’s okay. It won’t be that difficult.”

Young boys, huh.

Well, it might look that way to the dwarves.

But both Ron and I already possessed strength that surpassed the typical expectations for our age.

“It won’t take that long.”

* * *

Ron and I started moving as soon as morning came the next day.

Whether the story about us had already spread throughout Black Root Village, there was a strange light in everyone’s eyes.

Nevertheless, the gloomy and dark atmosphere did not disappear.

The dwarves were moving with sad eyes and listless steps, and even the young dwarves looked dejected.

‘Their families have been kidnapped, but they can’t do anything about it, so it’s understandable.’

No one knows more about helplessness and frustration than I do.

It must be a truly terrible feeling.

“Are you really going?”

Baher looked at us with reluctant eyes.

“Yes, didn’t we tell you that yesterday?”

Baher looked at us as if contemplating for a moment, then clenched his fist.

“Wait here for a moment.”

It was about 5 minutes later that Baher, who had disappeared somewhere, reappeared.

He was wearing light armor, clutching a thick hammer, and walking steadily.

“I’ll go with you. I’ll guide the way.”

The dwarves who were watching nearby were shocked at Baher’s words.

“Village Chief! It’s dangerous!”

“Village Chief!”

A few dwarves, startled, rushed over and grabbed Baher’s arms.

“The village’s benefactor has stepped up to help, so should the village elder just stand by? Anyway, you’ll need a guide!”

Baher slammed his hammer on the ground.

The huge hammer, almost as big as his torso, resonated heavily on the ground.

“Let’s go!”

The villagers could no longer stop Baher.

The three of us went outside the village.

Perhaps because we had already swept away the enemies around the village once, we were not immediately attacked.

Baher gathered the power of the earth to suppress his presence, and Ron and I used Aura Skills to deploy stealth as we moved quickly.

The workshop was located even deeper in the forest.

At the foot of a cliff, where numerous trees grew lushly.

There were stone houses everywhere that seemed to have been made with the dwarves’ skills, and the clay dolls we had seen before were densely packed on the outskirts.

“Shall I go in and scout?”

Ron said, looking at the workshop.

I shook my head.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, but my stealth is a bit better. I’ll go. Since today is for reconnaissance, I’ll scout quickly and come out.”

At my words, Ron and Baher nodded.

“If an unexpected situation occurs, Ron, you detonate your Aura to let us know. I’ll do the same.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I deployed Strong Qi Body, Mirage.

The Silver Armor I was wearing maximized the power of the Mirage.

“……!”

Ron was shocked by the sudden disappearance of Lee Cheol right in front of him.

He had believed it because he said his stealth was excellent, but he didn’t know it would be to this extent.

‘Stealth that can only be recognized by concentrating on sensory perception.’

It was probably a combination of the power of the equipment and the ability of a special Aura Skill, but it was astonishing that the stealth of someone who had not even trained as a professional assassin was at this level.

“Then I’ll be back.”

I said that and descended the cliff.

-Ggrrrrr….

I passed by the clay dolls guarding the perimeter and jumped over the high stone wall.

‘Presence.’

And I confirmed the presence of people in various parts of the workshop.

After checking the magic of stealth once again, I kicked off the ground again.

“…….is. This is how you do it. That formula is…….”

“……da…… is not enough…….”

Voices were coming from one building.

I stuck to the wall and focused on the voices.

At that moment.