Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 171

Weapon-Devouring Young Master – Episode 171

One week before Christmas.

Bishop Horatio was preparing for the annual Christmas Mass, working tirelessly in his office.

Well, he was supposed to be.

“What… did you just say?”

“…”

Bishop Horatio and Bishop Francis frowned at Lee Cheol’s words.

“I told you that after contacting and confirming things myself a while ago, I became convinced that I couldn’t do it. I’m sorry, but I’m going to withdraw from anything related to the object sealed underground.”

“…If this is a joke, stop it now. If you have any further requests, tell me the truth. I’ll try to accommodate you as much as possible.”

Withdrawing suddenly after showing that he was not affected by the black object.

Bishop Horatio thought Lee Cheol wanted to raise his price.

*It was quite clever. He seemed more like a merchant or politician than a martial artist.*

At Horatio’s gaze, Lee Cheol shrugged and said,

“A request? It’s not like that. I haven’t even received what I requested in advance, so why would I ask for more?”

“Then what is the meaning of this, Prince Lee Cheol? We have accepted all of your requests and have been waiting aimlessly for over half a year!”

Bishop Francis’s eyes flashed.

He slammed the ground with his staff, and magic flowed out because he couldn’t control his emotions.

Lee Cheol put on a slightly embarrassed expression and looked at Bishop Francis.

“I wanted to keep my promise because I had said it. So I saw it myself, but I don’t know what to do.”

“Surely we saw that you were not affected by the underground object.”

“Yes, that’s right. But that was it.”

“…Shouldn’t you at least make some effort?”

Lee Cheol smiled and looked at Bishop Francis.

“To something I don’t even know what it is? I’ll take that as a joke.”

Bishop Francis frowned and pursed his lips.

Thinking about it, it was true.

Even the Church had not been able to do anything about it for generations. But to rashly approach it was certainly something to refuse.

No matter what the deal was, Lee Cheol was an outsider.

From Lee Cheol’s point of view, there was no reason to risk doing anything about it.

But even so.

‘We made a deal, but he’s rejecting it so casually. I misunderstood. I thought all the descendants of Soongmoo Lee [likely a legendary warrior or family known for courage] had the hearts of lions.’

Lee Cheol left one last word to the two bishops, whose expressions were hardening.

“Besides, I heard there was a terrorist attack in the Church recently.”

“…What does that have to do with this?”

“I am deeply sorry that the terrorist attack occurred, but I don’t want to be in the Church in such a dangerous situation.”

“…”

Bishop Francis was silent.

“So I will be leaving the Church in the near future. But I will have to attend Christmas Mass before I leave.”

Lee Cheol finished speaking and examined the faces of Bishop Horatio and Bishop Francis.

Bishop Horatio seemed a little shocked and was trying to sort out his emotions, while Bishop Francis was showing his emotions to the point of blushing.

‘As expected, they don’t show any clear signs with just this much.’

If they weren’t caught by Saint Christina, they wouldn’t be revealed so easily.

‘It doesn’t matter. I knew this would happen. This is just bait anyway.’

Lee Cheol took a short breath and continued thinking.

The terrorist attack in the Church would make it difficult for Six Nights [likely a clandestine organization] to move.

In that situation, I even said I would quit.

A sudden flood of variables in the plan.

The traitor hiding in the dark and Six Nights will begin to act.

‘And I’ll catch them.’

If I am needed for the underground black object, they will contact me in some way.

Conversely, if they don’t need me for the underground object, they will let me go and revise the plan.

I have prepared 대응방법 [response strategies] for whatever direction the other party moves.

Soon, Bishop Horatio sighed and opened his mouth.

“Can’t you really help us?”

“It’s not a matter of my will, but of my ability.”

“…I understand.”

Bishop Horatio nodded with a stiff expression.

“Then I’ll get up now.”

Lee Cheol stood up and made eye contact with the two bishops.

After briefly examining their expressions, he turned and walked out.

* * *

Some time after Lee Cheol left.

The two bishops, who had been silent for a while, began to talk.

“Are you going to leave it like this?”

Bishop Francis was the first to speak.

“What do you want me to do if I don’t leave it alone?”

“…There are many ways.”

Bishop Francis narrowed his eyes.

Having started as a priest in the Special Affairs Department and even served as the head of the Paladins [elite holy warriors], he knew the effects of those ‘many ways’ well.

“Don’t think about the wrong way. The Lord…”

“I just said there are many ways. And sometimes… there are necessary sacrifices.”

It was a priest-like statement from someone who had worked in the field.

Bishop Horatio was silent for a moment, lost in thought.

“I don’t know, Bishop Francis.”

“What is it?”

“That black object. Why did it suddenly start moving, and even Prince Lee Cheol, who said he couldn’t do it despite the Saint’s prophecy…”

Bishop Horatio leaned deeply into the back of his chair.

“…”

Bishop Francis was silent at Bishop Horatio’s words.

He just fidgeted with his hands on the handle of his staff with an uncomfortable expression.

“I know. Either way, our Church will only be stable when the remains sealed underground disappear.”

Bishop Horatio said meaningfully and approached the window.

The night streets of the Church, spread out below the window, were quiet due to the terrorist attack.

Buildings were twinkling with electric lights for Christmas, but not many people were walking around outside.

“Only then can the Church step out into the world. I have a calling. The Lord told me to spread the gospel to all nations, so I will follow it.”

Bishop Francis leaned on his staff and stood up.

“Lee Cheol’s power is needed to solve the object sealed underground, so I will take care of it. Bishop Horatio, do your job.”

Bishop Horatio did not stop Bishop Francis.

Clang!

The sound of Bishop Francis’s staff grew fainter.

* * *

Toc, toc.

Bishop Francis walked silently.

Even though his body was old and broken, the light in his eyes was still as bright as it had been in his prime.

He returned to his office in the main building.

And not long after.

Knock knock!

A sudden knock was heard.

“Come in.”

Creak!

At Bishop Francis’s words, the sound of old hinges was heard, and a figure entered the office.

It was a girl.

A girl with silky golden hair and clear eyes.

Unfittingly for those clear eyes, the girl’s expression was greatly shaken.

“Well, if you contacted me, it seems you have something to say. What do you want to say that you came to me for, Serena?”

The person who came to Bishop Francis was none other than Serena.

Serena was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath and opened her mouth.

“I have something to say about Prince Lee Cheol.”

* * *

Three days before Christmas.

The streets of the Church, which should have been filled with excitement for Christmas, were rather stiff.

The identity of the terrorist had not yet been revealed, and there were warnings of additional terrorist attacks, so many troops were patrolling each area almost every day.

Meanwhile.

A group of people in plain clothes, whose affiliation was unknown, gathered in the darkness of the night.

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes, Bishop.”

And it was none other than Bishop Francis who gathered these people.

As the head of the National Defense Agency and having spent a long time in the field, it was not difficult for Bishop Francis to move troops secretly.

“We have prepared friends who are tight-lipped. We can invade the mansion at any time if you order.”

“Any signs of anyone coming out of the mansion?”

“The youngest son of the Russell family came out a while ago. But Prince Lee Cheol is still inside.”

“Any possibility of disguise?”

“He did disguise himself, but it’s the opposite. Lord Ron, who came out, changed clothes with Prince Lee Cheol. His face was covered with a mask and hood, but he couldn’t completely hide his eye color and hair color.”

Bishop Francis smiled bitterly.

He seemed to be using his head, but he was clumsy.

I don’t deny that he’s skilled, but he’s still naive.

‘The preparation is complete.’

For several days after Lee Cheol said he would not do the job, Bishop Francis secretly gathered troops and thoroughly planned everything.

“Go in right now.”

“Stay here. We will subdue him and bring him here.”

“There’s no need for that. Even if I’m old, I was once a knight who wielded a sword.”

Bishop Francis made up his mind.

Although it was a somewhat forceful method, he was trying to subdue Lee Cheol and solve the ‘remains’ sealed underground.

‘This is my sin.’

But it was something that had to be done.

And Bishop Francis never turned away from his sin.

“The barrier for the barrier is finished. It seems they haven’t noticed it inside the mansion.”

“We have received a message from Serena. She said she has disabled the security devices in the mansion.”

“Now, let’s go in.”

Bishop Francis straightened his back and spread magic throughout his body.

Whether it was the power of magic or the power of his mind.

A strong force spread from Bishop Francis’s body, who seemed unable to walk without a staff.

Kwaang!

Soon, the troops led by Bishop Francis infiltrated the mansion.

Since the opponent was a trained martial artist, they didn’t bother to infiltrate quietly. They openly opened the door and quickly entered inside.

“Heh, I didn’t expect you to come like this.”

And Bishop Francis faced Lee Cheol in the center of the mansion.

As if he had been waiting, he stood tall and greeted Bishop Francis and his troops.

But at that moment, Bishop Francis felt a strange sense of unease.

“The place isn’t ideal, but it’s an honor to meet you, Bishop Francis. I am Ron of the Russell family.”

The identity of the unease was revealed.

That boy was not Lee Cheol.

But how?

“Why are you here! Surely the disguise was…!”

The person in charge of the troops accompanying Bishop Francis shouted in a bewildered tone.

“A double trap.”

Bishop Francis chuckled.

He didn’t know how, but Lee Cheol had some kind of ability to completely change the shape of his face.

‘He planned it. And there was someone who led us to come here.’

That person soon entered this place.

“…I’m sorry. Bishop Francis.”

Serena Cannata.

She also revealed herself.

“You… trapped me.”

Bishop Francis’s eyes narrowed.

Serena, who appeared in the doorway, shook her head and looked at Bishop Francis.

“No. We just remade the board.”

“Remade the board?”

“Before that, I want to ask you, Bishop. Why did you do that?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You know better than I do, Bishop.”

Bishop Francis was silent for a moment.

Soon, the tension in his body was released.

“You’ve already noticed everything.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then did Prince Lee Cheol go to him?”

Serena continued in a cold voice.

“Yes, to Bishop Horatio…”

Serena tried to speak but shook her head.

“No. He went to meet the traitor.”