Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 234

Weapon-Eating Heir 234

Seung-Moo Lee’s Central Conference Hall.

The elders and administrative staff were gathered in the conference hall.

The meeting was presided over by Lee Myung-jung, the eldest son, who was currently acting as the family head.

After the ‘Lee Chul-joong Incident’ a few years ago, a chilling atmosphere lingered at every meeting for a while, but now that everything was settled, peace had returned to the meetings.

But today, that cold atmosphere was being recreated once again.

“…What brings you to the meeting?”

Lee Myung-jung spoke casually, looking towards the corner of the conference hall.

His gaze was directed at Lee Gun-sung, the third son of the Seung-Moo Lee family, also known as the Silent Sword, who was sitting in the corner.

Lee Myung-jung inwardly wanted to ask, ‘What are you planning?’, but he didn’t show it.

“Isn’t it natural for someone with the qualifications of a quasi-elder to attend the meeting?”

Lee Gun-sung replied with a smile.

“That’s true. But you’ve never attended before, have you?”

“I’ve been active in Europe for a long time, and I felt I was neglecting family affairs. I thought I should pay more attention to the family now.”

Lee Myung-jung narrowed his eyes, studying Lee Gun-sung.

The atmosphere suddenly turned heavy.

‘Ahem, the atmosphere is really…’

‘Doesn’t it feel like watching a tiger and a dragon clash?’

‘It’s a blessing for the family to have such power, but it’s fierce, unlike the atmosphere during the Great War.’

The elders cleared their throats and exchanged glances.

Not long ago, Lee Myung-jung had a major clash with Lee Gun-sung.

Lee Gun-sung had provided the excuse, and Lee Myung-jung had used it effectively to diminish Lee Gun-sung’s influence.

After that, Lee Gun-sung, who had been quiet for a while under the pretext of recuperation, came to the meeting.

“Alright, good. Your understanding of the Western world is better than anyone else here, so I hope you can lend us your insight.”

Lee Myung-jung concluded, looking intently at Lee Gun-sung.

‘This time, with Chief Choi and the Black Crow Society, that guy’s hand must have been involved.’

It was clear that he had initiated the conflict.

And he had even succeeded in reducing Lee Gun-sung’s power within the family through it.

But something felt unsettling.

What happened to Chief Choi, and why did that guy target that side, even while accepting the reduction of his own power?

It was as if… he had no interest in power from the beginning.

“…I will start the meeting.”

Lee Gun-sung announced the start of the meeting in a voice that was somewhat lower than usual.

Meanwhile.

Lee Gun-sung’s eyes widened at the report from his subordinate, which secretly reached his ear.

-I have received word that the Heir has destroyed the Mirror’s base.

A report about Lee Chul.

Lee Gun-sung’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

‘What is he aiming for?’

Is it revenge for targeting the Black Crow Society?

Since there is no evidence, he can’t target me directly, so is he trying to attack indirectly?

‘That can’t be.’

Thinking about Lee Chul, Lee Gun-sung was lost in thought for a moment.

The Mirror’s base is located on an island in Northern Europe, Norway.

Northern Europe, Northern Europe…

‘Could it be…’

Lee Gun-sung narrowed his eyes.

Did he find that place? How on earth?

* * *

The knowledge I gained through the Black Knight’s greatsword gave me some information.

First, the Black Knight’s abnormal level of force.

As I expected, he didn’t acquire swordsmanship and magic through training.

Rather than training, it could be seen as being injected into him.

And it was the Puppeteer who injected that skill.

Second, the location where the Black Knight was created.

Unexplored areas of Northern Europe.

The central unexplored area located at the northernmost point.

In the Black Knight’s memory, there were dozens of people who looked like him.

Finally, the method by which the Black Knight was created.

But.

‘…It’s not certain.’

I couldn’t be sure about that memory.

The Black Knight’s memory was too fragmentary to make a quick judgment.

‘Either way, the results will come out today.’

I took a long breath as I looked at the huge barrier dividing the dangerous zone and the unexplored zone.

I’m going to take care of things before Lee Gun-sung notices my actions.

The road to the laboratory where the Black Knights are being created, and the place that is a branch of Kabbalah [a mystical Jewish tradition], was not difficult.

Even that was contained in the Black Knight’s memory.

* * *

I looked back at Ron’s Steel Knights, Serena’s Paladin Squad, and the Ironclad Unit and said.

“As you know, this joint operation is only meaningful if we strike at once. Originally, I would have to explain in detail, but since we have to move secretly and quickly, I will postpone the explanation until later.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Yes!”

How do I know the exact location, how do I find the way so well?

It was a pre-emptive move to avoid being asked such trivial questions.

“Since there are so many people, the sensory interference effect and magic impairment will be less. We’ll go in right away.”

I grabbed the Black Night in my hand and immediately crossed the barrier.

The unexplored areas of Northern Europe felt different from the unexplored areas of Asia.

If the unexplored areas of Asia were lush forests, this place was a series of endless snowfields.

There was nothing that could be called a road, and only the cries of strange monsters echoed from place to place.

Just seeing them setting up laboratories and branches and living in such a place, you could tell the nature of Kabbalah, one of the Six Nights [a group of powerful organizations or individuals].

I know the way, so I can move quickly, but we were only moving a little faster than usual.

No matter what anyone says, this is an unexplored area.

It was not a place to move rashly.

And no matter how well you know the way, this was an unexplored area, and there were a huge number of monsters.

-Kieeeeeek!

Kwaang! Kwaaang!

Dozens of large-scale monsters consisting of mutated level 4 and 5 monsters.

Monsters that would have reigned as bosses in high-level dungeons on the outside rushed in like swarms of bees.

“Kuaaak!”

And in the process, injuries naturally occurred.

I stopped the monster’s attack and looked around.

“Let’s rest here for a while.”

At my command, the Ironclad Unit naturally scattered around and proceeded with rest and vigilance.

The Steel Knights, whose mobility was reduced due to their armor, took their place inside, and the Paladins quickly scattered and treated the injured.

Without proper role assignment or delivery of content, everyone gathered here were veterans, so they did their jobs without having to be told.

‘The progress is fast. There’s not much left. But…’

I frowned as I crushed the dirt on the ground with my feet.

About that time, Ron approached me and spoke to me.

“Hoo, are you okay?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the confusion in your senses. I can’t get used to the unexplored areas no matter how many times I come.”

Ron tapped his ear.

The strange phenomenon Ron was experiencing seemed to be auditory hallucinations.

‘Come to think of it, I’m fine.’

My senses were too clear now.

No… I even felt like they were getting better.

“I can’t understand why the unexplored areas are like this.”

The uniqueness of unexplored areas is one of the unknowns that has not yet been resolved even in modern times.

Ron said that and looked at Lee Chul.

‘……He’s really a monster.’

Unexplored areas are uncomfortable spaces for even the most skilled warriors, but Lee Chul seemed unfazed.

Besides, the momentum I felt when I faced him after a long time…

‘He’s really amazing.’

Lee Chul’s momentum was incomparably different from that of the Great War.

If I had to put it into words, it would be freedom.

A neat aura of magic, the momentum of a warrior, and even the trivial movements that occasionally flowed out.

The moment I was sure that this was it, I saw a different side, and the moment I felt that was it, he showed me something else.

It’s like looking at the night sky.

A feeling that you can’t guess where the end is and where the starting point is.

Rather than being confused, it feels like water changing shape depending on the container it’s in.

And what this feeling means was one thing.

‘Has he reached the realm of Simgeom [a high level of swordsmanship mastery]…?’

It is said that there is a vast gap between those who have reached Simgeom and those who have not.

Ron had been fiercely continuing his training and practical experience since his meeting with Lee Chul, but he had not yet reached Simgeom.

In other words, the current Lee Chul was in a completely different dimension from Ron.

‘What kind of realm has Lee Chul reached?’

A warrior who has reached a realm is confident in his own ideal image and processes it to bring it out into the world.

What does the Simgeom that Lee Chul has reached look like?

I was curious about it, but at the same time, I felt jealousy and awe.

“Hehe.”

“…Why are you suddenly smiling like that while looking at me?”

I took a step away from Ron, who was smiling slyly.

“You don’t mean…”

“…I know what you’re thinking, but no. More than that, Lee Chul. We’re friends, right?”

“What all of a sudden?”

“I just thought it would be better not to be enemies if possible.”

Ron really thought so.

To be honest, I didn’t think I could catch up with Lee Chul anymore.

I was just satisfied with standing shoulder to shoulder.

“I’m grateful that the next generation head of the Russell family is becoming my friend.”

“Keu, even humility. Lee Chul still has a lot to learn from.”

“…What’s wrong with him?”

I frowned and tilted my head.

Ron smiled playfully, then looked at the snowfield full of eyes with a serious expression.

“By the way, Lee Chul. Haven’t you noticed anything strange?”

“…I felt it. It seems like you’re thinking the same thing as me.”

Ron narrowed his eyes at my words.

“This unexplored area… no, to be exact, the path we’ve been through…”

“…There are too few monsters.”

Ron nodded at my answer.

As many as dozens of level 4 and 5 monsters rushed in.

‘As many as’ dozens of monsters rushed in ‘only’ in the unexplored area.

‘I understand that Area B-1 was originally judged to be a low-risk area.

But now we’re not encountering more monsters than in Area B-1.’

We only encountered about dozens of monsters.

Besides, the number of monsters is decreasing as we move.

“So it seems like this isn’t usually the case.”

“Yes, that’s right. I’ve often been assigned missions here… The unexplored areas of Northern Europe are famous for having a large number of monsters. Didn’t Lee Chul feel it too?”

“Yeah. It’s not accurate because of the influence of the unexplored area, but I felt a huge presence of monsters in the distance.”

I tapped the muddy ground with my eyes.

“Maybe it’s because this is the path that the Kabbalah guys use. They’ll need supplies too, so they must have done something to make this path easier to travel.”

Of course, during the Church State incident, they said that they even opened gates to teleport.

However, that couldn’t be possible in the unexplored area where magic chaos is severe.

In other words, they must have done something to use the road.

“What kind of power do they use to block the approach of monsters? I don’t feel any barriers or magic either.”

“…There must be some way.”

In fact, I felt like I knew that method.

‘This energy… Is this playing some kind of role?’

A wriggling black energy was flowing out of the ground that I had dug up with my toes.

Even Ron, who has the body of a dragon, can’t feel it, but I can feel the energy.

Black energy.

‘I felt the change in black energy from the Black Knight. And… in Area B-1 too.’

It’s too weak to feel, but there’s no way I can mistake the nature of black energy.