Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 194

“In that case, I will make you the Family Head.”

Lee Jin-yoon said, looking at Lee Cheol.

He spoke bluntly on purpose.

It was to see how this sly fellow would react.

However.

‘Not even a flicker.’

Lee Jin-yoon unknowingly raised the corner of his lips slightly.

He’s not an easy opponent after all.

“Your reaction is lukewarm. Do you not like my offer very much?”

“It’s not that. It’s just that I can tell that what you’ve said isn’t everything. I’ll react after that.”

Lee Jin-yoon smiled even more deeply.

He’s not a naive guy after all.

Well, if he were the type to be shaken by something like this, he wouldn’t have revealed his true colors and come to find him.

“I’m serious about making you the Family Head. But before that, I must become the Family Head first.”

I looked at my second sister without answering.

My second sister, who had paused for a moment, continued speaking.

“I’ll be direct. Help me win the Family Head Competition. And when I step down from that throne in the future, I will pass on the next Family Head position to you.”

Only then did I begin to understand why my second sister was saying these things.

“I have no intention of marrying. Of course, I won’t have children, so there’s no reason for the Family Head position to be passed on to my successor. And I don’t intend to stay in that position for long either. I just want that position as proof of my struggle.”

More than the immense power that the Soongmoo Lee Family Head possesses, my second sister valued her struggle.

Truly a figure worthy of the Soongmoo Lee Family bloodline.

“So, I will step down from the Family Head position at the appropriate time and hand it over to you. You can even take an oath if you wish.”

My second sister’s voice had strength, and her eyes and relaxed demeanor exuded a sense of experience.

Who could look at my second sister now and call her crazy?

If she had been born a little earlier, she would have become an empress ruling the world.

‘She’s different from my first brother, of course, and my third brother too.’

A person with ambition and dreams, and the talent and ability to match.

Moreover, she possessed the patience and meticulousness to get covered in mud for the sake of ultimate victory.

Perhaps, in another sense, she was more frightening than the two brothers.

I looked at my second sister for a moment and asked.

“Why are you making me this offer?”

“Because I’m confident that I can win with you.”

“Thank you for evaluating me higher than I thought. The elders are dying to kill me because I’m a bastard, though.”

My second sister scoffed at my joking words.

“They’re just old-fashioned fools with oil in their eyes [meaning they are blinded by greed or outdated views]. What I’ve given you is a fair assessment of you. The one who gets you among our siblings will become the Family Head.”

The one who gets me becomes the Family Head.

I couldn’t help but laugh at those words.

“I understand that it’s difficult to answer right away. But I hope you’ll give me an answer as soon as possible. I’ll stop here for today……”

“It’s okay. That’s not why I laughed.”

My second sister looked at me with a smile.

“Really? Then shall we hear your answer?”

I answered without hesitation.

“Of course, it’s a rejection.”

* * *

My second sister didn’t frown or show any signs of displeasure.

She simply crossed her legs leisurely.

“It wouldn’t be a bad offer for you either. Considering your age, it won’t be easy to win against your older brother and Gunseong in the competition. Those two are monsters.”

“I know.”

My first brother’s support base is solid.

The revealed power is overwhelming, and his martial prowess is comparable to Father’s.

Conversely, everything about my third brother is shrouded in mystery.

I can’t see the end, and I don’t know what he’s holding.

It’s clear that he’s aiming for the Family Head position, but few in the family know what he’s doing.

In addition to that, there’s my second sister.

For me, who has just founded the Warrior Corps, to beat those two is, generally speaking, by no means an easy task.

“So, I’m saying let’s join hands. Or do you not trust me?”

“No. I don’t think you’d lie about something like this, big sister.”

“Then did you think I wouldn’t be able to beat those two?”

“If it’s you, second sister, you’ll be able to stand up to both of my brothers.”

My second sister frowned slightly.

“We’re not having a riddle contest, so answer clearly. If you think so, then why did you reject my offer?”

I slowly answered with a smile.

“What value is there in a Family Head position obtained that way?”

“Value. Value, huh…… That’s unexpected. I thought you were someone who prioritized practicality.”

Is that the image I gave off?

It’s a little sad that I can’t deny it outright, but either way, I’m by no means someone who only prioritizes practicality.

“You just said it yourself, big sister. You want that position as proof of your struggle. I’m not much different either. What value is there in a position that someone else will just hand over?”

If I wanted power, that offer would have been quite sweet.

But I’m actually similar to my second sister.

I’ve lived my life to imprint and prove myself to the world.

My second sister gave a cold smile at my answer.

“I’m not denying your abilities, but you started too late compared to the other siblings. Do you think you can compete with all of us and win?”

“I’d like to ask the opposite. I was a bastard who had nothing. But what about now?”

He discredited Lee Cheol-joong, an old monster of the family, and tore apart the Council of Elders.

During the Warrior Pilgrimage, he achieved accomplishments that even the other siblings were surprised by, and he firmly established himself as a warrior.

Who would see me as a bastard who started with nothing?

“It seems like you thought of me as a joker in the Family Head Competition…… I’m not a joker. I’m another player you should be wary of.”

My second sister stared at me silently.

I also met her gaze without backing down.

“It will be difficult. No, it will be impossible.”

I smiled at her warning, which lacked any emotion.

“That’s why it’s even more valuable.”

I’ve lived my life hearing too many stories about how it would be impossible or difficult.

What was the result?

My current position in the family is the result.

“Then we’re enemies. We have to take all of each other’s stakes.”

“Is there really a need to do that?”

“If you’re not an ally, you’re an enemy.”

“Seventh brother said that. He said he doesn’t make enemies.”

My second sister’s eyes widened slightly as she pondered those words for a moment.

“……An alliance? Are you making me a counter-proposal now?”

“You can refuse. Then we’ll just be enemies, as you said.”

A brief moment of silence.

“Hahaha!”

Following that, my second sister burst into laughter, showing all her gums.

“I feel like I’ve been hit! An alliance. Hahaha!”

My second sister laughed so hard that tears welled up in her eyes.

Soon, she wiped her eyes slightly and answered with a smile still on her lips.

“An alliance is something that people in equal positions do. You don’t have any significant power within the family, let alone outside of it. Do you think you can be my ally?”

“I told you.”

I smiled leisurely.

“I came this far from having nothing. Rather, isn’t it you who is only known as a battle maniac?”

Including my first brother, second sister, third brother, and all the other siblings.

I admit that they’re all great people.

But among them, who started from scratch like me?

“Anyway, it’s your turn to answer.”

“Okay, fine. I accept your offer.”

My second sister answered without a moment’s hesitation.

‘First Brother and Gunseong are already troublesome, and now that guy is an enemy too? I can’t have that.’

In the end, we’ll become enemies when we reach the end, but I don’t want to just hate him and crush him.

“Then from now on, we’re allies.”

“An ally who’s like an enemy. Hehe.”

“……Please be careful with your pronunciation.”

I held out my hand to my second sister, and she gripped my hand tightly enough to crush it, letting out a low laugh.

* * *

Before leaving the office, my second sister returned to her original state.

She hunched her back, scratched her head roughly, and drooped down.

That alone completely changed her impression.

“……Do you really have to go that far?”

I walked alongside my second sister, who was like that, with a reluctant expression.

“Well, to be honest, it’s easier because no one bothers me when I go around like this. It’s harder to mess with a crazy person than someone who’s scary or intimidating.”

At this point, I wondered if she was just acting like that because it was more comfortable than as a strategy.

The gap between her original appearance and her current appearance was so large that I couldn’t help but shake my head.

I crossed the training ground to escort my second sister out.

We had been talking for quite a long time, but the Cheollyeong Unit was still diligently continuing their sparring in the training ground.

“Youngseong is here.”

My second sister’s eyes widened as she spotted someone.

“Do you know him?”

“Of course. He’s the son of that Uncle Lee Baek-cheol.”

My second sister’s gaze landed on Lee Youngseong’s bow.

“He was someone I was quite interested in, but he came to you on his own. Now that I think about it, I guess I don’t have any luck with people. I’ve been coldly rejected by my cousin and now my own brother. Hehe!”

I was a little surprised at this point.

I also valued Lee Youngseong highly, but I never knew that my second sister had ever been interested in him.

Whoosh! Bang!

Around that time, Lee Youngseong knocked down another Cheollyeong Unit member by only flicking the bowstring without even nocking an arrow.

“Hahaha! This won’t do with just a drink! Buy me alcohol next time!”

Swaggering, nonchalant.

Lee Youngseong didn’t seem to have noticed me and my second sister, and he was shouting in a booming voice.

“Even though he looks like that, he’s like a wounded beast. It’s just that he’s been ruined by the corrupt Council of Elders and Uncle Lee Baek-cheol’s indifference. No, maybe he’s just pretending to be ruined like me.”

“…….”

I looked at Lee Youngseong for a moment.

Soon, my second sister and I arrived at the entrance of the Cheollyeong Unit training ground.

“By the way, you’ve gathered some decent ones, but isn’t it a bit ambiguous?”

My second sister said, turning her gaze towards the training ground that was no longer visible.

I said with a smile.

“It won’t take as long as you think.”

“It’ll be different from the Cadet Unit, though?”

“Please watch.”

“Hehe, I’ll look forward to it. Then I’ll be going now.”

Even though there was no one around, my second sister continued to act.

As my second sister was about to move her feet, she suddenly turned around as if she had remembered something.