Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 190

Weapon-Devouring Young Master – Episode 190

In one of the training grounds of the Sungmoo Yi family, an unusual scene was unfolding.

It was the selection interview for the direct subordinate warrior squad of Lee Cheol, the youngest son of the Sungmoo Yi family.

The number of applicants exceeded 500, including those already affiliated, as well as warriors from branch families and vassals.

Unlike Lee Cheol, who said he didn’t expect so many people to come, those gathered here were not surprised by the large turnout.

The reason was simple.

Recently, Lee Cheol has been the most talked-about member of the Sungmoo Yi family’s direct line.

Lee Cheol always demonstrated the ‘Sungmoo Yi spirit.’

He trained more fiercely than anyone else.

He never showed any signs of giving in.

He didn’t care about the stigma of being a son of a concubine, faced the Council of Elders, and overcame injustice with dignity.

At the young age of twenty, he was recognized as a Level 3 warrior, and there were the warrior procession, the rebuke to the Council of Elders, the Iron Thread Ceremony [a coming-of-age ritual], the Naming Ceremony [a formal recognition ceremony], the cadet squad, the warrior procession, the duel with Lee Myung-jung, the Bigo incident [likely a significant event or scandal within the family]…….

He had shown a series of amazing feats that were endless to recount.

Lee Cheol himself was unaware, but his name was becoming an object of envy for many.

Among the young warriors, some even expected Lee Cheol to become a legendary warrior who would write a new chapter in the next generation.

Such Lee Cheol had declared that he would gather a direct subordinate warrior squad.

Moreover, there were no conditions or qualifications.

Rumors even circulated that he would not accept any members from the 5th cadet squad, who were achieving results in their respective places under the name of the ‘Lee Cheol Division.’

Thus, many ambitious individuals gathered.

‘Could I do it too? Could I be like Lee Cheol, the young master…….’

‘If qualifications and status don’t matter, I can become a direct line warrior squad member.’

‘He was famous for having no support base, but he created his own support base from the outside.’

Everyone gathered with their own dreams of success.

And Lee Cheol stood before them.

“As you all know, this is where I will select my direct subordinate warrior squad. Unlike other places, I will decide who passes or fails. Also, I promise to treat those who become members of the warrior squad accordingly.”

Rumors had been circulating within the family that the warriors belonging to the Lee Cheol Division had received amazing support.

The eyes of the applicants gleamed at the words ‘appropriate treatment.’

I scanned the applicants and said,

“If you have any questions, ask them.”

“I have a question!”

As soon as I finished speaking, a boy who looked like he had just graduated from the cadet squad raised his hand.

“Speak.”

“May I ask what criteria you will use to select us!”

“It’s difficult to explain because I will select based on my own personal criteria. As I said before, I do not consider qualifications or status. Of course, I don’t look at the level of your cultivation or the specialness of your strength. I don’t care if you’re not from the cadet squad, even if you’re the lowest Level 9 warrior, or even if you’re from outside the family.”

The applicants all made low hissing sounds.

“If you don’t like this, you can leave now.”

The direct lines of the Sungmoo Yi family originally set all sorts of 까다로운 [kkadaraoun – 까다로운 means 까다로운] conditions when bringing in direct subordinate warrior squads.

But he didn’t care about that and said ‘my criteria,’ which was so fitting for ‘that Lee Cheol’ that it wouldn’t have been funny if someone else had said it.

“I have a question!”

Then, someone else raised their hand again, and when Lee Cheol gestured, a middle-aged warrior asked.

“Then what kind of test, no, what kind of proof do we need to show?”

“It’s simple. From now on, you will all spar with me.”

Numerous warriors with dreams of success.

They widened their eyes in bewilderment.

* * *

Kim Han, a young man from the 5th cadet squad, one of the Lee Cheol Division, and even called one of the trio, had taken a vacation to visit Lee Cheol’s warrior squad selection site.

“Ugh, I knew he would be like this.”

Kim Han hid in a corner of the training ground, trembling as he watched Lee Cheol.

Even so, to think of sparring with hundreds of people.

If it were like the young master…….

“……It’s like the young master. Isn’t it?”

Kim Han opened his eyes wide and turned around.

Choi In-ha was walking slowly towards him.

“Huh? What is it?”

“……I was just curious too. And everyone except a few has already come to watch.”

Only then did Kim Han spread his senses and look around.

Sure enough.

He could see the guys hiding in every corner, watching.

“Huh. Everyone seems to have a lot of vacation time. I don’t have much left…… Did they use half-days or something?”

“I know you used that vacation time for training. You can make time for personal training separately, so why did you use your vacation?”

“……I don’t want to fall behind. Everyone is so amazing. Sigh. Anyway, it seems like we’re not the only ones who came to see.”

Kim Han’s eyes sharply scanned the training ground.

There were auras hidden in various parts of the training ground that didn’t seem friendly.

The Council of Elders? Or other direct lines?

“The young master has become a noteworthy existence in many ways.”

“Hmm, it’s not ‘now.’ He’s always been like that.”

Well, he was famous since he was in the cadet squad.

“If we can find them, there’s no way the young master wouldn’t know. There’s no need to worry.”

“I guess so.”

Choi In-ha and Kim Han stood side by side, watching Lee Cheol and the applicants who had started sparring.

“……Will it be okay?”

It wasn’t a word to worry about Lee Cheol.

Choi In-ha also knew who the object of concern was, so he smiled subtly.

“It’ll be okay. Surely, even so, there are so many applicants, he won’t coldly reject them…….”

Thud!

At that moment, a warrior fell out of the training ground.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think you fit the criteria for the warrior squad that I want.”

Lee Cheol’s low voice was heard.

Kim Han and Choi In-ha laughed awkwardly.

“Next.”

From then on, it started.

Next, next, next…….

Lee Cheol’s resolute voice continued.

Choi In-ha and Kim Han looked at each other with sullen expressions.

“Why does it feel like I’ve seen this somewhere before?”

“I have the same thought.”

Both recalled the sparring they had in their first meeting during their cadet squad days.

And at the same time, they trembled.

* * *

I faced the applicants with Mujin in hand.

I didn’t have the confidence to explain it well, so I glossed over it a bit, but there were definitely criteria for selecting them.

Cultivation and martial prowess were not criteria, as I said.

I am stronger than anyone else among them. And if I cared about martial prowess, I would have brought the cadet squad guys.

The criteria were…… how should I put it, simple.

‘Anyone who is like Sungmoo Yi is fine.’

It was the same as in the cadet squad.

Those who can break their own eggs, or those who know how to fight.

I was thinking of picking people who were suitable for Sungmoo Yi.

This place was a process to distinguish the gems from the stones.

There weren’t many such people, so I had no choice but to look at them one by one.

I thought as I eliminated another applicant.

‘This guy is strong, but just so-so. He has this much talent, but this much achievement. Is he not making an effort?’

I shook my head as I received the sword of a middle-aged warrior who seemed to be around Level 4.

He seemed to have outstanding talent and received appropriate support, but that was it.

There’s no way I can take this guy to the end.

The next applicant.

‘He’s gone down the wrong path. He’s putting in the wrong kind of effort…… what should I do?’

He’s a bit too stubborn.

I wonder if he would have been better off learning bare-handed combat rather than swordsmanship.

‘On the other hand, this guy is full of confidence. He’s convinced that he’ll make it. He’s arrogant and foolish. This guy won’t do.’

As countless talented people gather in Sungmoo Yi, there were many with their own characteristics and methods.

And I was picking only the people I needed among them.

That’s why I didn’t pick many people.

In the morning, I sparred with a hundred people and only picked nine.

Some of them were angry about why they were eliminated.

“I’m much younger and stronger than the guy who just got in! Why am I failing! I can be a strength to the young master! My family is……!”

Could he be from a fairly close branch family?

He was a young man with black hair and light-colored yellow eyes, and a confident tone typical of prestigious families.

“I told you before. I don’t look at martial prowess. And with that much magic power, you must have received support from a fairly high-level elixir, but you’ve only achieved that much. Where are you getting the nerve to raise your voice?”

“What does that……!”

“Don’t you really know what I’m talking about?”

I don’t have the ability to read minds or use telepathy, but at least as a warrior who has reached a certain level, I can guess how much time that warrior has spent by exchanging swords a few times.

“Next.”

I ignored the guy who was glaring at me with a clenched fist and turned my head.

One person, two people, applicants continued.

Eliminations continued.

And after a while, a boy who looked like he had just graduated from the cadet squad came before me.

“Junior Warrior, Baek Min-gi. I ask for your guidance, Young Master Lee Cheol.”

“Okay.”

Just graduating from the cadet squad meant considerable talent and a lot of effort.

Thud!

The guy was helplessly bounced off without even receiving a single blow and rolled on the ground.

His estimated grade was 5th or 6th at best.

He hadn’t learned anything special, and it was obvious that he had only faithfully learned what was taught in the cadet squad.

But he got up immediately after falling.

But soon, he realized that he had lost and clenched his fist.

“……Thank you.”

The guy, sensing that he had failed, tightly grabbed his weapon that had fallen next to him and took a refreshing breath.

‘He’s only 5th grade with what he was taught in the cadet squad. His magic power is low, but he’s solid. He didn’t get proper support, so he just trained his basic swordsmanship like crazy. This is the kind of guy I need.’

There was also a guy who reminded me of Kim Han.

If I put this guy and Kim Han together, it would be a pretty good picture.

I smiled and said.

“Junior Warrior Baek Min-gi. Go over there and wait.”

“Yes, yes?”

“That means you passed. Please take care of me.”

I tapped the bewildered guy and continued sparring.

The applicants stared at the training ground with surprised eyes.

Lee Cheol…… was truly shocking.

Using a shape-shifting divine weapon, he treated the applicants with the exact same weapons as them.

To be honest, each of those spars gave a great realization.

So much so that some of the eliminated felt it was a stroke of luck.

Besides.

‘Wasn’t that definitely a warrior from the Bloodhowl Squad just now? Level 4…….’

‘But he rejected that?’

‘On the other hand, he accepted a guy who can’t even draw aura…….’

Lee Cheol really didn’t look at martial prowess or the level of cultivation, as he said.

“Hey, didn’t the youngest young master point out that guy accurately just now?”

“I know. He’s strong, but he’s famous for having a bad reputation. Did he investigate in advance?”

“……Or maybe he just saw through him.”

Everyone realized Lee Cheol’s criteria at some point.

Those who had a bright light, those who had a straight heart, those who had a clear purpose.

If it was Lee Cheol’s level, could he tell the person’s personality or nature just by exchanging swords a few times? All the selected were known as hard workers or had something special.

All day long, Lee Cheol continued to spar with the easily rushing warriors and spar with the applicants.

* * *

I took a breath and shook my head.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to hurt you, but you’re too old to be active on the front lines with my warrior squad. But I was really impressed with what you showed me.”

“……Thank you. I knew I wouldn’t make it either. Thank you for seeing me in a good light.”

The elderly warrior bowed his head and left the training ground.

I shrugged my shoulders and looked at the sky.

Dusk was falling, and the streetlights were starting to turn on in the main residence.

‘Damn it. I should have divided it into two days.’

I took a breath.

Even if I spend a short amount of time per person, I’m sparring all day long…… Even I can’t help but get a little tired.

I glanced at the corner of the training ground.

‘These lucky bastards. They’re just watching and not doing anything? Should I bring those guys and use them…… Hmph, never mind.’

I clicked my tongue.

I knew that Kim Han, Choi In-ha, and other 5th squad guys had come to watch.

The guys kept watching and now they were just talking among themselves.

I drew out magic power to relieve the fatigue in my body and turned my head again.

“Who’s next?”

“Last. It’s me.”

Speaking informally?

A heavy voice echoed from below the training ground.

Soon, a woman wearing a deep hood walked up to the training ground.

Instantly, my intuition reacted.

I didn’t see who was coming up, but my body automatically tensed up.

“Huh?”

“Could it be?”

“Why is that person…….”

There was a murmur among the successful applicants.

It was an angle that couldn’t be seen from my side, but the successful applicants seemed to be able to see the appearance of the applicant coming up.

And soon, the woman’s head, face, and upper body gradually appeared as she walked up the stairs.

The moment I saw her, I doubted my eyes.

‘Why is that person here…….’

The one who came up with a hunched posture and a low chuckle.

“Hello. Youngest. You said anyone is fine, so can I do it too?”

The warrior whom my father directly named 武狂 (Mukwang, Martial Maniac) [Mukwang means Martial Maniac].

My second older sister, Lee Jin-yoon, stood before me.

* * *

Mukwang, Lee Jin-yoon.

One of the few siblings that my father acknowledged.

She has no interest in the competition for the family head, no interest in family politics, and is only interested in learning martial arts…… or so it is known.

‘In my past life, she was famous for mastering most of the family’s secret techniques.’

She could have even received a license to teach if she wanted to, but she didn’t because it was a hassle, and she refused the position of Elder because it was a hassle.

She does 폐관 수련 (closed-door training) [meaning secluded training], which ordinary people would hate, like eating meals, and she often refuses the duties of a direct line, and she would immediately start a fight if someone looked a little stronger, regardless of seniority or rank, so everyone in the family avoided her a little.

However, there was one thing that everyone acknowledged: my second older sister showed a maniacal interest in ‘fighting’ more than anyone else.

“Is this the first time we’re greeting each other separately? Hehe!”

My second older sister looked at me with a gloomy smile.

I swallowed hard.

‘As I’ve always felt, she’s really tall.’

My second older sister was hunching over, but she was about the same height as me.

Besides, her body was extremely trained.

‘She reminds me of Elder Ryeo…….’

Just standing in front of her feels like facing a huge rock.

I smiled and greeted her.

“This is the first time I’ve met you like this, Older Sister.”

“Yeah, that’s right. It’s the first time. Hehe.”

My second older sister, with her disheveled hair hanging down and her shoulders twitching.

“But why did you come here?”

“Hmm…… It was incredibly annoying for me to come here and even wait…….”

My second older sister yawned and then her eyes sparkled.

“I thought it would be an opportunity to legally compete with you. You said qualifications don’t matter. Let me join too.”

“……Are you going to fight me?”

“Yeah, youngest.”

I frowned slightly and stared at my second older sister.

“What’s the reason?”

“What? What reason?”

“There must be a reason why you’re doing this?”

“I don’t know. Don’t you know me? I’ve always liked this kind of thing.”

I let out a hollow laugh.

“Well, you can’t stop acting since people are watching.”

My second older sister stopped abruptly.

But without any change in expression or momentum, she smiled gloomily again and said.

“Hehe, what are you talking about, youngest?”

At those words, I snorted.

Why are there so many sly people in this family?

‘It seems like she came here with a plan, so I can’t avoid it. Did she deliberately wait until the last turn?’

I shook my head.

And I drew out magic power.

‘I wanted to compete with my older sister anyway, so it’s a good thing.’

I turned around and said to the successful applicants.

“I’m sorry, but I think I’ll have to play with my older sister. You all go back and come back tomorrow.”

“Yes, yes!”

At those words, the successful applicants looked at each other and slowly retreated.

I put my hand on my jeogori [traditional Korean jacket] and looked at my second older sister.

“You’re thinking of fighting? That’s good! Youngest!”

My second older sister laughed like a madman and removed the cloth from something huge she was holding in her arms.

It was just a huge lump of iron that was ambiguous to call an ax, a blunt weapon, a greatsword, or even a spear.

My second older sister’s beloved weapon, 巨山 (Geosan, Giant Mountain) [Geosan means Giant Mountain].

Not a sacred object or a heavenly weapon, just a weapon that is big, heavy, and hard.

“Shall we see the youngest brother’s tricks?”

“It won’t be easy.”

I put my hand on Eunhan’s jeogori and shone my eyes.

Clang!

Immediately after, my second older sister and I collided.