Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 211

Weapon-Devouring Bastard – Episode 211

The Final Moment

Lee Cheol finally managed to pierce Cheolwiseong’s defenses, driving Black Night into him.

However, the attack didn’t have the force Lee Cheol had hoped for.

He was at his limit from the relentless fighting and had suffered a fatal wound from Cheolwiseong’s final, desperate attack.

In the end, Cheolwiseong’s blow landed first.

Cheolwiseong looked down at Lee Cheol, his eyes wide with surprise.

Glug! Glug!

A massive wound, as if cleaved by a giant blade, was visible on Lee Cheol’s body, stretching from his left collarbone to his right pelvis.

A tremendous amount of blood poured from the wound, revealing broken bone fragments and mangled internal organs.

“…….”

Lee Cheol wasn’t breathing.

He was instantly dead.

The internal organs, nerves, muscles… everything was so destroyed that it was impossible to identify a single specific injury.

No, from the moment Lee Cheol swung his final blow, he had already lost his life.

It was just that Lee Cheol’s body, honed through extreme discipline, continued to move and wield the sword until the very end, even after his breath had ceased.

“Huh.”

Cheolwiseong let out a hollow laugh.

“To open the door and cross over in that short moment.”

Cheolwiseong raised his hand and stroked his neck.

In the final moment, Lee Cheol had clearly opened the door and entered the realm of Sword Heart [a state of perfect unity with one’s sword].

And the blow he swung right before his death pierced through the absolute defense of the Nine Dragons River Qi [a powerful energy shield] and grazed his neck.

Although it only touched the skin and a few blood vessels… if it had been just a bit deeper, the carotid artery would have been severed.

‘Even in the throes of death, he twisted his body at the last moment to protect his heart and head. I can’t help but be impressed.’

Swoosh……!

Cheolwiseong wiped the blood from his neck, healed the wound with his Aura [internal energy], and looked down at Lee Cheol’s face.

“He went with a smile.”

Perhaps it was thanks to the joy of breaking through the wall at the last moment, but Lee Cheol had a faint smile on his face.

In any case, he was dead.

Being dead meant there was no more meaning.

“I’ve nipped a promising sprout in the bud. Jang Han will have something to say about this.”

He felt a pang of regret.

Cheolwiseong lived as he pleased, but he wondered if cutting down someone with so much potential had been too impulsive.

‘If only I had taken him as a disciple… hmm, it’s a meaningless thought.’

Cheolwiseong shook his head and turned away.

The mischievous girl from the Magic Tower, the Golden Crow [a mythical bird], and even the woman from the Soongmoo Lee Family who was wandering around the ruins.

He briefly considered killing the witnesses… but decided to leave them alone.

His disciple, Jang Han, would take care of it.

The ensuing chaos would be a form of entertainment in itself.

‘With that said, should I take this with me?’

Cheolwiseong slowly moved toward the jet-black sword that Lee Cheol had wielded.

He reached out to grab it.

Crackle!

Magical power surged through his body.

The edge of his magical circuit was burning away due to an unknown force.

“Is it choosing its owner?”

Cheolwiseong clicked his tongue in regret as he looked at Black Night.

‘I guess there’s no helping it.’

Cheolwiseong shook his head and turned away.

Whoosh!

Nine massive auras swirled around Cheolwiseong’s body.

He rode those auras and soared into the sky.

And so,

Lee Cheol died.

* * *

Lee Kyung-hwa was exploring the outskirts of the ruins, unaware of the earth-shattering explosions.

“Y, you…! Hey! Hey! Seriously, look over here!”

“Huh, uh?”

Only after someone forcibly grabbed her shoulder did Lee Kyung-hwa snap out of her daze and turn her head.

Then, she frowned.

“What are you? Why are you here?”

Lee Kyung-hwa frowned, realizing it was Valerie who had disturbed her concentration.

“Y, you… what are you doing here right now?”

“Researching, what else?”

Lee Kyung-hwa tilted her head, confused by Valerie’s question.

“Not that! Can’t you hear that?!”

Lee Kyung-hwa’s eyes widened at Valerie’s outburst.

Thud, rumble, rumble…….

Only then did Lee Kyung-hwa realize that explosions were echoing in the distance.

She initially dismissed it as an auditory hallucination, a common occurrence in unexplored territories.

Lee Kyung-hwa scoffed.

“You, acting so high and mighty, you’re that surprised by a sensory impairment?”

“No! That’s! Not it!”

Valerie, as if frustrated, explained the situation, rambling unlike her usual composed self.

“K, Kuryongchaeju… Ch, Cheolwiseong…”

-Beep…….

Valerie continued to speak, trembling with fear.

And Lee Kyung-hwa, after hearing the explanation, couldn’t believe her ears.

“Q, quickly! We have to run away! No, w, we have to help! Request support from your family or something…!”

Thump!

Lee Kyung-hwa didn’t let Valerie finish, and shot off toward the center of the ruins.

Even though she had considerable internal injuries from the battle with the monster and her magical power was depleted, she ignored the pain.

And so, she arrived at the center of the ruins.

Lee Kyung-hwa found Lee Cheol lying motionless on the ground.

Valerie, who belatedly chased after her, was first shocked that the situation had ended so quickly, and then stunned by Lee Kyung-hwa’s expression.

‘W, what kind of expression is that…….’

Lee Kyung-hwa’s face was so contorted with despair that Valerie couldn’t find the words to describe it.

“No! My baby! Baby! No!”

Lee Kyung-hwa screamed almost desperately and clung to Lee Cheol’s lifeless body.

“N, no! This can’t happen again!”

“……Get off.”

Valerie, who followed behind, pushed Lee Kyung-hwa away with some effort and began to cast a healing spell.

But it was already too late.

-Squawk! Squawk!

The Black Crow also pecked at Lee Cheol’s corpse with its beak.

“Th, those guys. They, they did it again…! This, this can’t be happening!”

“Calm down! What’s wrong with you!”

“Aaaagh!”

Valerie was startled and stumbled away from Lee Kyung-hwa.

Twisted magical power began to emanate from Lee Kyung-hwa’s body.

It was a magical power runaway [a dangerous uncontrolled surge of magical energy].

She had forcibly squeezed out magical power from a body that had already reached its limit.

“Hey! You’ll die too if you keep going! Stop it!”

In that state, her life force would be consumed.

Valerie was alarmed and tried to stop Lee Kyung-hwa.

“Cough!”

Blood flowed from Lee Kyung-hwa’s nose, eyes, and mouth.

But at that moment.

Twitch!

Something moved.

Valerie turned around, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Wh, wh, wh…….”

Valerie stuttered, too shocked to speak properly.

At that moment, Lee Cheol’s body twitched again.

“……!”

Even Lee Kyung-hwa, whose face was covered in blood and tears, stopped her runaway and stared at Lee Cheol.

Inside Lee Cheol’s tattered coat, from within Eunhan [a storage artifact], a single jet-black feather was moving on its own, rising into the air.

“Th, this is?”

Valerie doubted her eyes as she looked at the feather.

And the next moment, a dazzling light began to envelop Lee Cheol.

* * *

A long time ago, Lee Cheol had received a gift from Anastasia, the leader of the Black Crow Society.

It was a feather of the Three-Legged Crow, the sacred object of the Black Crow Society.

Lee Cheol always called it a ‘spare life’ and carried it inside Eunhan.

The feather of the Three-Legged Crow.

An item that the Three-Legged Crow dropped only once every few hundred years as it swallowed the sun.

And its ability was:

-It’s a complete recovery ability. It can only be used once, but it will have the same effect as Ambrosia or Elixir [legendary healing substances]. However, according to tradition, the neck or heart must not be completely destroyed. And the soul must not completely leave the body.

The feather of the Three-Legged Crow, floating in the air, began to emit a hazy light.

Soon, the numerous black fibers that made up the feather began to seep into Lee Cheol’s body.

Twitch, twitch.

The Black Qi [corrupted energy] remaining in his body, the tattered Eunhan, and even the magical power that had not yet dissipated into the air.

All of those things mixed together and began to seal and regenerate Lee Cheol’s body.

Thump!

And something began to beat.

Thump, thump, thump.

The beat was the sound of a heart, and it was also a sound that announced the beginning of a new life.

“H, healing magic!”

“O, okay! I got it!”

Valerie regained her senses at Lee Kyung-hwa’s cry and poured out her magical power.

And.

The corners of Lee Cheol’s mouth, which had not moved at all, began to twitch.

“Baby-!”

“Lee Cheol!”

Lee Kyung-hwa and Valerie rushed to Lee Cheol in a hurry.

* * *

Soongmoo Lee Family’s base camp.

The sixth, Lee Seol-ah, who was with the Yeonggeomdan [elite sword squad], frowned.

‘Damn it. Why are there so many monsters.’

At first, she didn’t like being excluded from the external exploration, but now she was starting to think it might have been for the best.

There were too many monsters in Area B-1.

Around the base camp, monsters were piled up like mountains, literally.

“Hey, can’t you loosen up your expression? You’re just guarding the base anyway.”

“Yeah, we’re the ones going out and wandering around.”

The two twins sneered and needled Lee Seol-ah.

Lee Seol-ah frowned.

“Shut up.”

“When the youngest was here, you couldn’t even make a peep… are you crazy…….”

“Yeah, she’s really gone crazy.”

Lee Seol-ah looked at Lee Hyun-jae and Lee Hyun-chan and scoffed.

“You guys were scared and ran back to the base camp, but why are your tongues so sharp?”

“Wh, what?”

“Hey! When abnormal phenomena occur, you’re supposed to retreat!”

“Ah, yes~ yes~. I’m sure you are.”

The strange presence that had appeared in Area B-1.

And the changes that appeared in those who inherited the blood of the Soongmoo Lee Family immediately after.

Lee Hyun-jae and Lee Hyun-chan had temporarily suspended their scheduled exploration and returned to the base camp.

“By the way, the youngest isn’t coming back.”

“Isn’t it possible that it happened because of the youngest?”

“I guess it could be…….”

The earthquake.

The tremendous explosions that followed immediately after.

The entire Area B-1 was rocked by explosions.

And it wasn’t just once or twice, but explosions kept erupting one after another.

“Anyway, some of the Yeonggeomdan went to search, so we’ll know something when they come back.”

“It would have been easier to explore if the entire 1st division of the Yeonggeomdan had come, or even the 2nd or 3rd division had been deployed.”

“It seems like the other missions are important too.”

The two twin brothers looked at the inside of the outer wall while having their conversation.

Not only the Yeonggeomdan members but also the general warriors were exhausted from the accumulated battles.

It was then.

“Huh?”

A dazed voice was heard from somewhere.

“Huh, uh? What’s that?”

It was a commotion from the general warriors who were guarding the outer wall.

Lee Hyun-jae and Lee Hyun-chan, as well as Lee Seol-ah, tilted their heads towards the commotion with puzzled expressions.

“This is the west outer wall! An unidentified person is approaching!”

The moment they turned their heads, such a cry echoed.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth ran out almost simultaneously.

And they saw a person walking towards the outer wall with a large load on their back.

‘Wh, what is that?’

A man wearing a long sword and tying his long hair back.

From his gait to his subtly concealed aura.

It was unlikely that a person who appeared in the unexplored territory would be an ordinary person, but the man’s aura had something special about it.

“Who are you! Identify yourself!”

Lee Seol-ah was the first to summon a dagger in the air and jumped off the outer wall.

The man, facing Lee Seol-ah, said in an indifferent voice.

“Lee Seol-ah of the Soongmoo Lee Family. Are you the person in charge?”

“Wh, what?”

“If you’re not the person in charge, step aside. I want to talk to the person with authority.”

The man said so casually, and Lee Seol-ah glared.

‘These guys are ignoring us now…….’

It was the moment she was about to move her dagger.

Lee Seol-ah met the man’s eyes, gasped, and had no choice but to stop moving.

She almost died.

That’s what she thought.

Lee Seol-ah could only flinch and couldn’t take any action.

Whoosh! Thud!

Then the fourth, Lee Hyun-jae, landed lightly on the ground and stood in front of the man.

“I am the fourth, Lee Hyun-jae, of the Soongmoo Lee Family. I am the commander right now. Identify yourself first.”

It wasn’t wrong to say that Lee Hyun-jae was in command in Lee Cheol’s absence.

The man wearing the long sword nodded and continued to speak.

“I am Jang Han, the direct disciple of the Kuryongchaeju [the leader of the Nine Dragons Society]. This is a gift delivered from the main family.”

Thump!

The man, Jang Han, placed the heavy load on the ground.

Lee Hyun-jae frowned and approached the load.

He could tell without even looking.

The bumpy shape revealed above the thick leather, the dark red stains that had seeped into the fibers, and above all, the pungent odor that stung his nose.

“……What is this?”

“These are the heads of the elders and disciples from the main family. They are the ones who came here with the mission to kill the direct line of your family.”

“What?”

“What do you mean by a mission to kill the direct line? No, more than that, why are you delivering this to us?”

Lee Hyun-chan interrupted and shouted.

Jang Han continued to speak with a calm expression.

“A few days ago, a request came to Kuryongchae to kill the ninth young master, Lee Cheol, of the Soongmoo Lee Family. These are the ones who came here to carry out that mission.”

The twin brothers and Lee Seol-ah didn’t immediately understand Jang Han’s words.

But Jang Han continued to speak without caring.

“The acceptance of that request was carried out unilaterally by the elders. The main family realized this fact and dispatched me.”

Jang Han finished his explanation and bit his lip with a deep sigh.

‘……Is this what you brought me here to do, Master?’

He thought of his second master, the Kuryongchaeju.

He thought he could finally get revenge on Lee Cheol after several years.

“How can we trust you?”

“That’s none of my business. I was just following orders. Then, my business is done, so I’ll be leaving.”

“Wait!”

Jang Han ignored Lee Hyun-jae’s words and turned around to leave.

* * *

Outskirts of Area B-1 in the unexplored territory.

Jang Han left Area B-1 and joined Cheolwiseong.

“Mission accomplished.”

“Hmm, good work.”

Cheolwiseong was rubbing his neck.

Jang Han’s eyes narrowed at the sight.

“Were you injured?”

“Slightly. That kid was quite something.”

Jang Han’s eyes narrowed further.

Slightly?

Did he inflict even a slight wound on this monster who had transcended humanity?

“Whether it was a desperate determination just before death, or just plain luck, thanks to him, I’ll have a scar on my neck.”

“……Just before death?”

Jang Han asked, repeating those words.

“Ah, I’m sorry, disciple. I ended up killing that kid. When I saw him, I didn’t feel like talking and just felt like I had to kill him.”

“Are you saying…… you killed Lee Cheol?”

“Yes.”

Jang Han doubted his ears for a moment.

Cheolwiseong had clearly sent him to the Soongmoo Lee Family’s base camp to talk to Lee Cheol.

“……Really?”

“That’s right.”

“He’s not the type to die so easily.”

“He didn’t die easily. He even left a wound on me, didn’t he?”

“…….”

He couldn’t believe it.

Was he really dead?

But if it was his master.

If it was this man, he wouldn’t have left alive someone he intended to kill.

‘Is he really dead?’

To die so futilely in a useless place.

Jang Han suddenly felt anger rising, but he tried to suppress it.

Because there was nothing more foolish than revealing his emotions in front of this master.

“The witnesses…… no, it doesn’t matter whether there are any or not. There must be traces left by Master.”

“Hmm, so I just left the witnesses alive.”

“What…… were you trying to do?”

He felt like his head was spinning.

The original plan for this mission was like this.

Deceive the elders by pretending to accept the Lee Cheol assassination request, and only take the disciples who were connected to the elders.

Then Jang Han would kill all of those disciples, convey the facts to Lee Cheol, and hand over their heads.

Lee Cheol would gain justification when he returned to the main family with just the heads of the Kuryongchae disciples.

If it was his personality, he would definitely not let it go, so the Soongmoo Lee Family would become chaotic.

Meanwhile, Jang Han would be able to prepare for the upcoming ‘purge of the elders’.

That was the plan.

And this plan required Lee Cheol to be alive, and the conspiracy had to be solely the elders’ doing.

“As you instructed, I handed over the heads of the disciples to the Soongmoo Lee Family. I also conveyed it to the Soongmoo Lee Family as originally planned. But if it becomes known that the Kuryongchaeju personally intervened…… your prestige…….”

“My prestige? I don’t have such a thing, and I’m not interested in it.”

“Harming a direct descendant of the Soongmoo Lee Family’s main family could lead to war.”

“Wouldn’t that be fun in its own way? Haha.”

Jang Han pressed his lips tightly.

Was the world seen by an absolute being something different?

He was smiling leisurely, as if he really didn’t care, with a willow leaf in his mouth.

‘Lee Cheol…… is dead.’

Jang Han couldn’t believe that fact, but at the same time, he was feeling an emotion that he had no choice but to believe because it was the words of his master.

But, why?

For some reason, he felt like the guy was still alive.

Wasn’t he going to come to his senses somewhere, with his unique, unpleasant, sly smile?

‘If that happens…….’

It would be less troublesome if he was dead.

But if he was alive, he would definitely attack with another extraordinary scheme.

And it would be entirely up to him to handle it.

‘Yeah, just stay dead. Lee Cheol.’

Jang Han thought so and followed behind Cheolwiseong.