Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 169

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 169

Christina Bellarez.

Born in an orphanage in the Holy Kingdom, this Hispanic girl was one of the few granted a Class 1 ranking due to her unparalleled talent in Divine magic.

She was particularly noted for her ability to disrupt magic systems with her unique Divine magic, and her skills in purification and healing, making her more suited for battles against multiple opponents rather than one-on-one combat.

Just like in my past life, she is still praised as one of the best swordsmen in the Western world.

And now, that woman stands before me.

‘She’s different from Henry Russell. If I had to say… she feels similar to Cardinal Horatio.’

Just standing there, she possesses an aura that inspires awe in others.

Even without crossing swords, the spirit of my sword is subdued.

It doesn’t feel like I’ve lost in terms of spirit, but rather that my fighting spirit has simply vanished.

And the moment I realized that, my eyes widened at the realization that flashed through my mind.

‘So that’s what it is. They said those who reach the pinnacle build their own domain… this must be what they meant.’

Aside from my father, she is the second person I’ve met who is called a Class 1, following Henry Russell.

If Henry Russell felt like nothing special, just ordinary.

From the Saintess Christina, I felt a vast and deep ocean or lake that embraces the opponent.

Standing before her, you can only gaze in admiration, without any desire to compete—such is her disposition.

‘Then what was Father’s domain?’

And more than anything… what about me?

“……”

I unconsciously shut my mouth.

I felt some kind of realization flash through my mind.

The concept of one’s own domain.

It felt like a huge question had been thrown at me.

‘It’s a pity.’

But I didn’t have the luxury to dwell on this question right now.

I gathered my thoughts and greeted her with courtesy.

“It is an honor to meet you, Saintess Christina. I am Lee Cheol from the Sungmoo Lee family.”

“The honor is all mine, Young Master Lee Cheol.”

Receiving the light falling from the stained glass, Saintess Christina gave a radiant smile.

I examined the Saintess.

‘She’s said to be seriously injured… it’s true.’

The Saintess Christina appears flawless on the outside.

However, a very subtle amount of magic is leaking from her.

Something that even I can do, a Class 1 knight is unable to completely control their magic.

And as if reading my expression, Saintess Christina called Serena.

“Serena, would you please go outside and guard the perimeter for a moment?”

“But.”

“Please. We don’t know who might come.”

“…Yes, I understand, Master.”

After hesitating for a moment, Serena gave a knightly bow and strode out of the cathedral.

“I apologize for summoning you so abruptly, Young Master Lee Cheol.”

“It’s alright.”

“I am currently known to have difficulty moving around. So, although I know it’s rude, I secretly invited you like this. I believe you have many questions.”

It was a statement laden with many meanings.

The current situation of the Holy Kingdom, the state of Saintess Christina, the black object, and the existence of a traitor.

“I had some idea, but… after meeting the Saintess, I have even more questions.”

“Is that so? In what areas?”

“I never imagined that someone of the Saintess’s stature would inflict wounds on herself in a self-inflicted act.”

Saintess Christina’s eyes widened slightly.

I stared directly at Saintess Christina.

It is impossible for someone of Saintess Christina’s caliber to sustain that level of internal injury ‘silently and without a trace.’

If there is a way.

Saintess Christina either inflicted it herself or allowed it to happen.

“A self-inflicted act? I was injured during a mission.”

“Of course, that’s what happened. You probably just let the opponent wound you.”

Instead of answering, Saintess Christina gave a strange smile.

I continued to speak to her.

“Why did you do that?”

“Because that was the order given.”

“Even though it was a wrong order to harm yourself?”

“I do not judge right or wrong. I simply follow my faith.”

Saintess Christina maintained a smile on her face as she continued.

“Perhaps, an explanation of the current situation in the Holy Kingdom is necessary.”

* * *

The Holy Kingdom is a country without enemies.

Not because it possesses strong military power led by Paladins [elite holy knights].

The Holy Kingdom is clearly a nation with territory, people, and sovereignty, but it is also the headquarters of a religion that has a significant impact on the world.

Therefore, despite having strong military power, the Holy Kingdom refrains from actions that deviate from the framework of religion as much as possible.

Whether it’s diplomatic warfare or disputes in national defense.

It tries to establish itself in the world as a ‘religion’ rather than as a ‘nation.’

Therefore, the Holy Kingdom never attacks first, nor is it attacked.

An ideal image of a nation that sounds beautiful at first glance.

But that’s impossible.

The current Holy Kingdom was being ridiculed as being no different from a closed-off country.

It insists on passive actions in many aspects, including diplomacy.

That might have been possible in the chaos after the Great War, but in modern times, where many interests have become intertwined, it is very inefficient and inevitably leads to losses.

In such a situation, it was almost inevitable that other voices would begin to emerge.

“His Holiness the Pope wishes to maintain the status quo. Conversely, among the bishops, there are those who dream of raising the status of the Holy Kingdom to the world a little more.”

The most representative of the bishops with tendencies opposed to the current Pope were the two bishops I met today.

The problem is that even if the bishops do something politically, they cannot change the Pope’s will.

Because the Holy Kingdom is a religious state, it must follow the will of God and the Pope, who is closest to God.

“The traitor emerged for that reason. And ‘they’ are a race that is good at delving into people’s inner selves, so they must have reached out to one of those bishops.”

They.

I immediately shone my eyes at that word.

“The fact that you say that means you know which organization the traitor has joined hands with.”

“Yes, they are heretics called Behemoth.”

I shone my eyes.

I had a hunch.

Those I saw at the tomb of Ancestor Lee Hyang-seon.

I thought that if there was a force supporting the traitor, it might be them.

‘The black object sealed beneath the Holy Kingdom. That must be their goal.’

The situation begins to fit together in my head.

The reason why they reached out to the bishop, and the reason why the bishop took their hand.

Saintess Christina read my expression and widened her eyes.

“You know about them?”

“Yes, I’ve clashed with them a few times already.”

“Then there’s no need to explain them. If I’ve explained this far, you can roughly guess who the traitor is.”

“It must be either Bishop Horatio or Bishop Francis.”

“That’s correct.”

I frowned.

So, you knew all that and were just watching?

“Now I understand. But I still don’t understand why the Saintess is watching so passively.”

I frowned for a moment and looked into the Saintess’s eyes.

Only then did I understand Saintess Christina’s words.

“……I see.”

She is unable to identify who the traitor is.

That’s why she allowed herself to fall for the opponent’s scheme.

To shatter their intentions when the traitor eventually moves.

‘But even so, she… doesn’t even try to move proactively.’

She doesn’t judge. She just follows.

‘She accepted the order to fall into the trap openly. This person did.’

The reason for falling into the trap is understandable.

To hide, saying she was seriously injured, and then move the moment the traitor reveals himself.

It’s understandable, but it was a method that I couldn’t see as the best option.

If it were me, I would have investigated the authenticity of that order and overturned the situation.

But Saintess Christina is not me.

She had no intention of moving until everything became clear.

I sighed briefly and cleared my head.

‘It’s just as I expected. I understand the Saintess as well.’

The start of everything must have been when the black object sealed underground began to react.

Behemoth sensed it and recruited one of the two bishops.

The Saintess had too much power, so they must have tried to remove her. Of course, Saintess Christina was only acting and preserved her strength.

“I want to apologize for involving Young Master Lee Cheol in this complicated situation. And I explained the situation so that you wouldn’t be unknowingly entangled.”

“It’s alright. I was already expecting it. And……”

I turned my body and said.

“I’ve never really liked moving according to other people’s intentions on a set stage.”

I have always overturned the established stage.

This time will be no different.

Now that the truth of all this is beginning to be seen.

As I have always done, I just need to overturn everything and create the stage I want.

* * *

After all the talk, I came out of the cathedral with Serena again.

“Did the conversation go well?”

Serena looked at my expression and asked carefully.

“You had a bit of a stiff expression. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Serena.”

I looked at Serena and relaxed my expression.

She doesn’t know the details of this series of events.

At best, she probably only knows that Saintess Christina wasn’t actually seriously injured.

“Serena, I need to stop by the accommodation and then go somewhere right away. Can I ask for your guidance?”

“Yes? Of course. But where are you planning to go?”

“I need to meet Lee Seo-hyun.”

Since I don’t have enough cards, I need to fill them a bit.

* * *

The training ground of the Holy Knight Order (Paladin) directly under the Pope.

Lee Seo-hyun, the eighth member of the Sungmoo Lee family, was grumbling and swinging her sword.

‘Damn it. I shouldn’t have listened to that arrogant bastard Lee Cheol.’

Lee Seo-hyun was currently living as part of the Paladin Order.

Following Lee Cheol’s advice, she went to the Papal Palace, and as soon as she was certified as the Ivory Sword Master, she was able to live with the Paladins for various reasons, including exchanges.

‘No, everything else is fine, but! These people are too ascetic!’

Lee Seo-hyun looked at the knight order members who were silently swinging their swords and made a dumbfounded expression.

First of all, it was really nice to learn Divine magic at the Papal Palace.

But that was the only good thing.

It was a different kind of desperation from the desperation of the Sungmoo Lee family.

From diet to lifestyle, they push themselves ascetically in everything.

There is no light chat or competition.

Their purpose is to push themselves, not for themselves, but only for God.

Every time she felt that, Lee Seo-hyun felt a little suffocated.

But every time, she pulled herself together.

‘Still, it’s training.’

She was learning Divine magic and how to properly handle the Ivory Sword, and she was feeling herself getting stronger day by day.

It had only been about a year, but Lee Seo-hyun was feeling much stronger than she was during the Grand Tournament.

“Still, when that Lee Cheol guy was around, there was no time to be bored.”

“Was there?”

“……?”

Lee Seo-hyun stopped her sword, startled.

“Wh-what! Why are you here!”

“That’s how it happened. Do you have some time?”

“Uh, uh?”

“Come with me. I need you to help me.”

Although I don’t like it, I needed a reliable ally.

I looked at Lee Seo-hyun and shone my eyes.

* * *

The Pope who will remain still, and Saintess Christina who will not move.

Bishop Horatio and Bishop Francis, whose traitor cannot be identified.

And me.

In order to overturn the board in this situation, words were not enough.

Lee Seo-hyun came, but it’s still not enough.

So, I asked for another help.

“I’m asking for your help.”

As always in these matters, information is important.

I had the manpower to fill that part.

The Black Turtle Association.

They readily accepted as soon as they received my call.

Me, Lee Seo-hyun, Serena, Ron, and the Black Turtle Association.

With this, some preparations have been made.

Now, I just need to move.