Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 203

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 203

Three days had passed since we entered the uncharted territory.

We moved our base camp to another area.

There were too many monster corpses around the original base camp, making it impossible to live there.

“I think this will do. How’s your body?”

“I, I’m fine. What is this… I’m all healed!”

I used healing magic to treat the warriors with fractures and internal injuries in the tents where the injured were gathered.

“Wow, maknae [youngest sibling or member]. How do you use such amazing magic?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

The fourth and fifth older brothers now followed me around whenever I did anything.

And every time I did something, they would widen their eyes and show a surprised expression.

“Both of you should be able to heal the body with magic.”

“Yeah, but I don’t know how to fix a bone that’s broken in just two days? It was an injury that would have taken a week to heal, but you fixed it in two days?”

“That’s right, that’s right. And you healed someone with torn muscles earlier.”

“…….”

I turned away from the chattering twin brothers and approached the injured again.

Meanwhile, the fourth brother, Lee Hyun-jae, who had started following me again, secretly had a telepathic conversation with the fifth brother, Lee Hyun-chan.

-What do you think of the maknae?

-Feels like a mix of the third hyung [older brother or male friend] and the first hyung? With a bit of the seventh hyung?

-You’re talking like a game character?

-Actually, the maknae is a cheat character.

-That’s true.

Even though it seemed like they were just following me without thinking, they were secretly observing Lee Cheol to judge him.

Lee Cheol was like an onion.

The more you peeled, the more came out.

-I need to see more, but I don’t think the maknae thinks badly of us.

-Right! Unlike that stupid sixth brother, we never discriminated against him for being a bastard, right?

-That’s right, that’s right.

-Looking at the maknae makes me want popcorn. Following the maknae seems like it will be quite fun.

-So, are you going to join the maknae’s faction?

-That’s annoying, right? Let’s just watch from behind.

-Will he let us do that? The maknae?

-……That’s true?

The two giggled as they had such a conversation.

The twins lived their lives only for ‘fun’ and ‘interest’.

Unlike the other brothers, who were somewhat abstemious in terms of entertainment, the two of them liked to play from the start.

They had a personality that made them start things as soon as they thought it was fun, and their motto was to enjoy life while avoiding troublesome things as much as possible.

But.

‘……That can’t be. Anyway, the twin brothers are a bit unique, both in the past life and now.’

It seemed like they thought I couldn’t hear them because they were talking telepathically, but unfortunately, I could hear them very well.

I didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but because my magic was quite special, I could easily hear telepathic conversations from this close.

‘Well, whatever, I don’t need to worry about the two brothers anymore.’

At least they didn’t seem to have any intention of antagonizing me.

I turned my head slightly and looked at the twin brothers.

“Hmm? Why, maknae?”

“Hehe, what’s wrong, maknae?”

“It’s nothing.”

They had just had such a conversation behind my back, and now they were smiling innocently.

I let out a hollow laugh and got up from my seat.

At that moment, I heard a strange commotion outside, and a warrior pushed aside the tent and came inside.

“Young master. The Yeonggeomdan [Shadow Sword Unit] has finished their reconnaissance and returned.”

“I understand. I’ll go out right away.”

It seemed that the central reconnaissance I had ordered was over.

I immediately walked out of the injured’s tent.

I could see the Yeonggeomdan and the leader walking through the outer wall of the base camp.

But their appearance was unusual.

‘The leader is injured like that?’

The leader’s black uniform was torn in several places, and blood was flowing from the torn areas.

Some of the followers also appeared to be seriously injured.

Those injuries were something that monsters could never have inflicted.

The wounds on the Yeonggeomdan’s bodies were made by humans.

* * *

I faced the leader in the central tent.

And carefully examined his injuries.

He had much greater martial prowess than an ordinary level 4 warrior.

Moreover, the Yeonggeomdan were specialized in stealth and infiltration techniques.

Even if they encountered monsters, they shouldn’t have been easily injured.

“These are injuries inflicted by a person. Is it a sword or a saber?”

“As expected of you, young master. That’s right. I will report immediately.”

“Get treatment first.”

“No. I will report first.”

The leader answered calmly.

Although the bleeding had stopped now, it seemed that there had been considerable bleeding, but he didn’t seem to care.

“There are two things to report.”

The leader began his report calmly.

“First of all, the center was as you suspected, young master.”

“Was there something in the center?”

“We couldn’t enter the ruins. However, it seems certain that something is there.”

The leader took a short breath and continued.

“We witnessed monsters coming out of the ruins. All of those monsters were mutated.”

“Shouldn’t there only be mutated monsters in the uncharted territory?”

“It wasn’t that level. They were similar to the level 4 monsters you fought on the first day, young master. They were dragonkin with the power of demonkin, or undead with amorphous slime-type bodies.”

I frowned.

Even if the uncharted territory was a space where the logic of the world was twisted, it wasn’t a place where chimeras that transcended species would appear.

“Also, the monsters that came out of there did not antagonize each other. As you suspected, young master, it is believed that there is something in the center that produces or summons monsters. Perhaps…….”

The leader didn’t say the last word, but I could guess what it was.

‘There may be a higher-level entity that controls all those monsters.’

A level 3 or level 2 monster.

Although the magic power of such a higher-level monster had not been detected, it had to be considered a possibility.

“And the next report. While returning after finishing the central investigation, we encountered the Nine Dragons Company forces.”

“Those injuries must have been from then.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The leader frowned very slightly.

“I can’t be sure because of the influence of the uncharted territory. The area we encountered was near the northern part of the central ruins, but the battle took place near the southwestern MA-12 area, which is the opposite.”

In the uncharted territory, the distinction between direction and location becomes meaningless.

Just moving a few steps can transport you hundreds of meters, or walking for several hours may only move you a few meters.

This place was like a huge maze, so pinpointing an exact location was meaningless.

“It seems that a considerable expert came out of the Nine Dragons Company. To inflict injuries on the Yeonggeomdan, even so.”

At least the Yeonggeomdan could be said to be the best in the world when it came to those kinds of techniques.

To find the Yeonggeomdan who are hiding in the uncharted territory with all their heart… frankly, even I would have a hard time without using the Evil Eye.

Perhaps thinking that my words were pointing at him, the leader immediately lowered his body.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I was just saying. So, were you able to grasp the exact number or information about the people?”

“Yes, there were a total of 15 people. And even the direct disciples among the Nine Dragons Company Lord’s disciples came.”

“Disciples?”

The Nine Dragons Company Lord has many disciples.

According to reports, the number of disciples is said to exceed 300 in total.

“Sending the direct disciples means that the Nine Dragons Company Lord is quite interested in this place. But I know that the current direct disciples are mediocre.”

The Sword Demon Lord Seo Woong-geon, whose death was confirmed, was the only known martial artist.

The rest were either unknown, or even if they were known… they died soon after.

The Nine Dragons Company Lord’s disciples are famous for having many deaths.

“The direct disciples were confused by the sensory impairment of the uncharted territory and couldn’t move properly. Only one person fought properly.”

“……One person?”

At those words, I widened my eyes.

Did the Yeonggeomdan, of all people, get defeated by just one person?

“He was the same kind as us.”

The same kind, meaning an assassin.

As soon as I heard that story, I instinctively guessed who it was.

‘Is it Jang Han?’

An assassin, a direct disciple of the Nine Dragons Company Lord, and a skilled person who could injure the Yeonggeomdan.

Jang Han is the only person like that in the Nine Dragons Company.

‘Even those injuries… it’s definitely him.’

If this were outside, I would have been happy, but since the place we are going to meet is the uncharted territory, there is no reason to be happy.

Just like when I met Valerie, Jang Han and I have no choice but to become enemies since we met with our respective missions in the uncharted territory.

It was then.

Wiiiiiiing!

The artifact that alerted us to intruders reacted.

“Intruders! Someone is approaching the base camp from the sky!”

The leader and I burst out of the tent.

* * *

I immediately headed to the outer wall, and after discovering the person confronting the warriors of the main family, I held my forehead.

The person who reported as an intruder was none other than…….

“Ehehe! This body has returned! Where is Lee Cheol! Lee Cheol!”

It was Valerie.

She was smiling while standing in the sky above the base camp with levitation magic.

“Captain. What should we do? Do you know this person, captain?”

Lee Young-seong, who was aiming his bow, looked at me with a nervous expression.

I rubbed the back of my neck and said.

“……I told her to come quietly.”

“Captain?”

Lee Young-seong glanced at me.

An expression asking me to give an order.

“Shoot.”

“……Yes?”

“It’s okay to shoot. Aim for the head or heart if possible.”

While Lee Young-seong was panicking, Valerie, who somehow heard my words, shouted.

“Lee Cheol! Even so, I kept my promise and came all the way here, but you’re telling me to shoot an arrow! Isn’t that too much?!”

“Hoo.”

I sighed first and gestured to calm the warriors of the main family.

At that time, my aunt, who followed behind, poked my side while grumbling.

“Why are you suddenly doing that?”

“Baby. I hate that person.”

Aunt was glaring at Valerie with her brow furrowed.

“Yeah, she’s headstrong. And she’s a bit strange. She talks strangely, and she’s eaten that much age. Tsk, tsk!” [A disapproving sound, implying someone is acting younger than their age]

“…….”

I thought that it wasn’t something my aunt should say, so I replaced my answer with silence.

‘Is it a hatred of the same kind?’

I thought they would get along surprisingly well, but maybe not.

“Nice to meet you. Magician Bell.”

“Nice to meet you. I heard you were coming.”

The direct line went to greet her as if they had agreed to it beforehand.

Valerie… is a celebrity in many ways.

She is a strange person from the Magic Tower and often appears in the media.

“I am Valerie de Bell. Now that I’ve come, this exploration is as good as a success! Haha!”

As expected, Valerie, who flaunted her tremendous self-love, finally entered the base camp.

I let out a hollow laugh and watched the scene, then my eyes lit up.

‘Now everyone is here.’

The treatment of the injured and the collection of information were almost finished.

It was time to start the exploration.

* * *

I finished the brief introduction of Valerie and immediately split the personnel as I had said in advance.

The first team is assigned to the Cheollyeongdae [Iron Shadow Unit] led by Lee Young-seong, the Red Hwadae [Red Flower Unit] of the sixth sister, the fourth and fifth brothers, and the Ssangyongdae [Twin Dragon Unit].

The first team will explore other areas except for the center according to their mission.

The second team is the base camp.

The Yeonggeomdan, the injured, and the sixth sister will be stationed there.

And the third team.

Me, Aunt, Valerie.

We will head straight to the center to explore the ruins.

That way, we split from the first team and started exploring.

“Maknae! Be careful!”

“That’s right! Be careful, maknae!”

The two twin brothers led the troops and immediately began exploring.

They spoke playfully, but there was tension in their eyes.

Since the two twin brothers, who are evaluated as quasi-3rd class, are together, it will not be very dangerous.

After sending them.

“What. You were that Lee Kyung-hwa? The person who came out in the ‘Expansion of Magic Circuits in Magic Dynamics’ journal?”

“Wh, what about it!”

“No, I just found it interesting.”

“Wa, was it interesting? Really?”

“Dealing with magic circuits. It’s a method that was abandoned because of its instability, but you’re reviving it. Weren’t you the one who was nominated for this time in the Magic Energy Journal?”

“Th, that’s right! Ahem!”

Valerie and Aunt were bickering like that at first, but soon they started to get along.

It seemed that Valerie, who had a high nose [is arrogant], was being dragged around by Aunt, who was secretly timid, but anyway, it seemed that they would soon become close.

‘Aunt was secretly envious of Valerie.’

Unlike Aunt, who is close to a room scholar [someone who studies in isolation], Valerie is already a researcher recognized in academia.

“Well, of course, my ‘Magical Engineering Analysis of the Evil Eye’ will win the award this time. Besides, your paper is interesting, but in the end, it depends on talent, right?”

“Wh, what? You’re the one who! What about you, with a half-baked paper topic with so few research subjects! Besides, your naming sense is the worst! What’s with the Four Kings Evil Eye or something! You were rejected because there were so few research subjects! You weren’t even published in an academic journal.”

“I, It’s not a half-baked paper!”

……They started fighting right away.

I sighed.

Maybe putting the two in the same group was a big mistake.

“Please calm down, both of you.”

“Hmph! I hate her, disciple!”

Aunt came back behind me and subtly appealed that she was a teacher.

“Disciple? Lee Cheol is also my disciple?”

“What, you only taught him a little bit about the Evil Eye!”

The two started fighting again.

I stood in the middle of Aunt, who was trying to run, and Valerie, who raised her eyes, and looked at the two of them alternately.

“Aunt, Valerie. I’m sure I told you to follow my orders. We’re going to a dangerous place now. Focus.”

“Oh, yes, okay…….”

“Ah, I understand. Lee Cheol.”

Only then did the two lower their voices and become quiet.

I sighed and immediately continued.

“Our goal is to explore the ruins in the center. I need Valerie’s help. You can use the Evil Eye, right?”

“It’s a bit less accurate because it’s an uncharted territory, but yes! It’s possible.”

At that time, Aunt raised her hand and asked.

“What about me? What should I do, disciple!”

“Aunt, you can just pour out your knowledge of ancient times as usual. Please record as much as possible.”

“Okay! I understand!”

“Then let’s start now. Even if we encounter monsters, let’s avoid fighting as much as possible. In unavoidable combat situations, I will always step forward first, Valerie will provide rear support, and Aunt will protect Valerie.”

“Okay!”

“Okay, baby!”

The combination of me, Valerie, and Aunt is surprisingly balanced.

This exploration may be quite dangerous, but with this member, we had enough power.

“By the way, how are you going to find the way? We have so few numbers. You’re not going to keep spinning around and get lost, are you?”

The only way to find a way in the uncharted territory is to rely purely on luck, or to have a large number of people move at the same time.

The more people there are together, the less frequent sensory impairments or anomalies occur.

But we are only 3 people.

The use of the Evil Eye is also restricted due to the influence of the uncharted territory.

“I have a guide who can find the way.”

“Guide?”

Valerie tilted her head, and so did Aunt.