Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 338

Weapon-Devouring Bastard – Episode 338

To cut to the chase, it was a decent place, especially since I’d picked it in a hurry.

The café was filled with the inviting aroma of freshly baked bread, and the sandwiches and drinks on display were colorful and attractively arranged.

“In a place like this, you usually order at the counter. Shall we go together and choose?”

Anastasya, feeling the need to take the initiative, guided Lee Cheol toward the counter.

To be honest, she wasn’t entirely sure, but based on what she’d seen in books and videos, customers typically ordered at the counter themselves.

However.

“Ah, welcome! Please take a seat, and we’ll bring you the menu. Payment is appreciated after your meal.”

“Yes, thank you. Anastasya, shall we find a table?”

Anastasya’s face flushed.

She hadn’t expected table service…!

Meanwhile, Lee Cheol, looking unfazed, casually perused the menu.

‘I… I shouldn’t have pretended to know what I was doing…!’

It wasn’t a big deal, but Anastasya couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed.

She hadn’t had many opportunities to order things herself.

It was due to her status.

In her childhood, it was because of her divine curse, and later, because of her position within the Black Tortoise Clan.

“So-yeong [alias for Anastasya]. These look good, what do you think?”

I pointed out a few items on the menu to Anastasya.

So-yeong was the alias I had given her.

We had agreed to use aliases while we were out.

“Yes… let’s get those.”

“Then I’ll order these.”

I tilted my head, noticing Anastasya’s slightly stiff expression, and called over a staff member to place our order.

* * *

The food was quite delicious.

Since childhood, I had always eaten a diet tailored to my specific nutritional needs, so the variety of flavors was quite stimulating.

I glanced over at Anastasya.

She took a small bite of her sandwich with her delicate mouth, chewed it carefully, and then her eyes widened.

“Wow, this is really good.”

I smiled faintly.

I thought it might be a bit light for a full meal, but it seemed to be better than expected.

We continued our meal, exchanging light conversation.

It wasn’t a bad time.

To be honest, I hadn’t felt this relaxed in days, no, months… no, years.

Well, to be honest, I still couldn’t completely let my guard down.

‘There are so many things to worry about.’

I had some breathing room and a plan, which was why I came out here, but I was still concerned.

The upcoming succession ceremony, the existence of Lee Hyul-hyun, the chaotic international situation, the Primordial Beast, my father’s life or death…

It seemed that now that I had food in my stomach, those thoughts were finally flooding in.

And it seemed to be the same for Anastasya, as she stared off into the distance, lost in thought.

Both Anastasya and I, sitting across from each other, were destined to live lives far from ordinary.

‘Still.’

Since we had this rare moment of leisure,

I decided to enjoy it to the fullest.

“Min-cheol [alias for Lee Cheol]. Now that I think about it, it’s not just our faces we need to change.”

As we finished our meal and continued chatting, Anastasya suddenly spoke.

Min-cheol was my alias.

“We’re already using aliases, aren’t we?”

“That too, but I think we should also drop the honorifics.”

Anastasya rested her chin on her hand on the table and smiled brightly.

“If we’re out together on the weekend like this, people will assume we’re friends or lovers, right? And if we’re just calling each other by our names but still using honorifics, it’ll seem strange.”

“I suppose so.”

“So, go ahead. Use informal speech. Since it’s the first time, use my real name.”

I nodded at Anastasya’s words.

Come to think of it, we’d been interacting for over a decade.

Considering we were even engaged, dropping honorifics shouldn’t be a big deal.

“Anastasya. What do you want to do next?”

“……”

“Anastasya?”

“I, I take it back. It, it’s better if we just do what’s comfortable.”

I simply nodded.

At that moment, I sensed a group of people moving outside the window.

‘…Hmm.’

They were dressed in plain clothes, casually walking down the street, but I could clearly sense the mana [internal energy] within them.

Plus, they had a subtly searching look, and even though they tried to hide it, they had earpieces attached to their ears.

‘Warriors from the main family. Did they track the traces of the Dae Po Cha [likely a tracking device or spell]?’

I was somewhat satisfied with the main family’s competence, but I had no intention of getting caught like this.

“Shall we get going?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Anastasya must have noticed them as well, as she immediately nodded and followed me.

Anastasya and I acted naturally, passing by the main family’s warriors.

Their gaze followed us for a moment, but soon they lost interest and looked elsewhere.

* * *

After that, Anastasya spent time with Lee Cheol.

It was as if their usual lives, the events that were about to happen, and all the incidents they had experienced so far were stories from a completely different world.

They strolled down the street aimlessly, bought unfamiliar foods from street vendors, browsed the items on display, and watched people.

The world was complex.

Even to Anastasya, who thought she knew a lot, there were many new things.

And it was peaceful.

Ordinary lives, different from their own. She was amazed that such lives existed.

She was the head of an intelligence organization.

Lee Cheol was the next head of the Soongmoo Lee family.

Both were people with great power, and with that power came great responsibility.

They couldn’t afford to live such leisurely lives, and she had even thought that they would never be able to experience such moments.

Before they knew it, time had passed, and the evening atmosphere was settling over the summer sky.

Looking up at the sky, Anastasya thought that its color was like Lee Cheol’s eyes.

She looked at the people passing by and the lights of the signs that were turning on, pushing back the twilight.

“There are so many lives besides our own.”

And she suddenly said that.

“And they’re so peaceful.”

Around that time, young people who seemed to be their age passed by them, chatting boisterously.

This place was a different world from their own.

She realized that the world they lived in was only a small part of this vast world.

The world where the majority of people lived was so different.

She and Lee Cheol might be strangers here.

Anastasya even felt a sense of loneliness at that fact.

She turned her gaze.

The aimless walk had led them to a high place with a clear view of the city’s nightscape.

Behind them stood a structure as tall as a spire, and in front of them, lights like fireflies were scattered under the night sky.

“Anastasya.”

Then, suddenly, Lee Cheol called her.

Even with several people gathered around, she could hear Lee Cheol’s voice clearly.

“You don’t look well. Are you alright?”

“It’s nothing. I just feel a little strange.”

The peaceful voices of people continued faintly behind them.

“We probably can’t live the same lives as them. We were born this way, and that’s our life. I’m not complaining… but I just had that thought.”

Anastasya paused for a moment, then continued.

“While I was lying down for so long because of the Spirit Transformation [likely a magical or spiritual process], I’ve been longing for this kind of life. A life surrounded by many people, enjoying ordinary things.”

“I see.”

“But even though it’s just for a day, living like this… I’m sure I won’t be able to live like this in the future.”

Because the world they lived in was so different.

Loneliness and solitude were like lifelong companions to her.

Today’s time was good and enjoyable, but it was also a time to confirm those things.

But it was also a time that made her feel loneliness and solitude again.

“Lee Cheol probably doesn’t feel that way. I’m just saying strange things by myself.”

Anastasya shrugged and leaned against the railing.

I looked at Anastasya.

I could feel her feelings.

And I could feel the burden and worries she was feeling.

So, I didn’t beat around the bush and said it straight out.

“To be blunt, I don’t particularly prefer a peaceful life. And as Anastasya said, we can’t live like them. We have our own lives.”

At my words, Anastasya gave a lonely smile.

Her expression was smiling, but her eyes seemed to be filled with tears.

“Yes, I know that.”

“Living like them is negligence for us who have power. They don’t know it, but a great danger is already approaching.”

I looked around for a moment, then continued.

“But… the time will come when we can do that. I intend to make it happen.”

There was something I had been aiming for since I regressed.

To reach the pinnacle.

The reason hadn’t changed.

In my past life, I lost my life as well as my people because I didn’t have the power, so I wanted to reach the pinnacle where I could stand firm against any challenge.

However, I don’t dream of existing alone.

I wanted to be the ground for all my people to stand on and the fence where they could rest.

It was a struggle and a life for that purpose.

Just like I did with Lee Cheol-joong and Lee Goon-seong, I will eliminate all the surviving Six Nights and the Primordial Beast.

I will get rid of them all and create such a world.

“When that time comes, well, of course, we’ll both have our own positions, so we won’t be able to do it often, but we can occasionally come out like this and stroll the streets like ordinary people, can’t we?”

“……Pardon?”

“If you’ve been longing for it, you just have to do it. Anastasya, didn’t you enjoy today?”

“No! I did!”

Anastasya answered quickly.

“Then let’s spend time like this again next time. I can’t do it every day, but if Anastasya wants, I’ll always be happy to hang out like today.”

I felt that Anastasya’s pupils widened slightly at my words.

My Mystic Eyes [a power or ability] were reflecting her true form, and her mysterious blue and silver eyes seemed to shine brightly.

I suddenly had a feeling that now was the right moment.

There weren’t many people around anymore. Realizing the reason, I gave a wry smile.

But that was that, and this was this.

I took a small box out of my pocket.

And I took a step closer to Anastasya.

“Anastasya. The reason I specifically came out with Anastasya was not because of the family or the Black Tortoise, but because I wanted to give you this of my own volition.”

I opened the box and showed it to Anastasya.

It was a ring that I had personally asked Sub Elder to make.

On the platinum band were elaborately crafted elegant lines and a shining transparent jewel in the center.

It was a ring that matched Anastasya’s hair and eye color.

“T, this is……”

Anastasya trembled slightly and covered her mouth with her hand.

“Sorry for being late, Anastasya. May I be by your side?”

Anastasya couldn’t breathe for a moment.

Because the meaning of those words was understood one by one.

In the end, Lee Cheol was thinking the same thing as her.

Anastasya accepted the box, the ring inside.

* * *

Meanwhile, a little away from the railing.

The entrance to the path leading upwards was temporarily restricted.

“Ahem!”

“Young Master… he’s sneakily skilled. To be honest, I was worried that we’d get through this without anything happening.”

“Young Master always does what he needs to do when the time comes.”

And the ones controlling it were none other than Choi In-ha, Kim Han, and Kim Bo-seong.

“Then does that mean she’ll be our sister-in-law? Right? Wow! The Black Tortoise Clan Lord is really beautiful, I’m so glad.”

Kim Han made a fuss and rejoiced.

At that moment.

“What sister-in-law? Are you even her annoying brother?”

Lee Seo-hyun, the deputy commander of the Cheollyeong Unit, who was standing next to him, pointed out with a sullen expression.

She grumbled with a sulky expression.

“Ah, that’s right. Gah Mo [term of respect for the head of a clan]… Hehe, to think that the Soongmoo Lee family’s Gah Mo is such a beautiful person. I’m so happy.”

“That’s why I don’t understand. How could such a pretty person choose that unlucky and squid-like guy? Wow, the Black Tortoise Clan Lord is really too good for him……”

Lee Seo-hyun frowned sincerely.

“Well… Eighth Young Lady. To be honest, Lee Cheol is not lacking in looks.”

“What? Him? Are you blind?”

“You may feel that way because you’re siblings, but objectively speaking, Lee Cheol is one of the most handsome men.”

“Are you guys crazy? Ugh, really.”

Lee Seo-hyun and the trio had such a conversation.

The reason they were here.

Of course, it was because they had identified Lee Cheol’s location.

Since they knew that Lee Cheol had the ability of the Myriad Mask [ability to change appearance], it wasn’t difficult to identify him.

With the Black Tortoise Clan’s intelligence and the Soongmoo Lee family’s manpower, this was a matter of course.

Of course, it was possible because it took half a day to track them down, and the two of them weren’t running away.

“Ana. I’m so glad.”

“Clan Lord……”

The Black Tortoise Clan members who were with them were also showing similar reactions.

In fact, they could have contacted Lee Cheol and Anastasya when they first found them, but they didn’t.

In the end, what mattered was whether they would get engaged or not, and it would be even better if they developed a deeper relationship.

Of course.

“Ugh! I can’t accept it! You cat burglar! I won’t give my disciple to you!”

“What are you saying, Kyung-hwa? Be quiet.”

“Let me go! Brother! I can’t accept this marriage!”

“It’s just an engagement. You little rascal. Be quiet.”

Lee Tae-hong wiped his nose and smiled contentedly.

“I knew he wouldn’t listen quietly, but I guess you were a man after all.”

“Ugh! You cat burglar! Cheol is much better!”

It was then.

“Aunt. Why are you acting so embarrassing?”

They were startled by the familiar voice behind them and turned their heads.

“Oh, oh? Cheol. How?”

“I noticed everything. The chasing, the people you assigned.”

How could I not know?

I just didn’t push them away because they weren’t approaching too aggressively.

“Clan Lord! Congratulations.”

“Ana! I’m so glad.”

The Black Tortoise Clan side was also in an uproar.

Anastasya showed a rare shy expression.

I looked at them, chuckled, and turned my gaze back.

Then, I lowered my voice as much as possible and said.

“By the way, I remember setting up the training schedule, but even the squadron leaders of the Four Gods are here. You must have been quite free.”

“……!”

The Soongmoo Lee family’s warriors, including Choi In-ha, Kim Han, Kim Bo-seong, and Lee Seo-hyun, trembled.

“And Uncle and Aunt… I’m surprised you’re interfering with my work. I’ll have to remember this.”

I said that I would openly keep it in mind.

Then, both Lee Tae-hong and Lee Kyung-hwa turned pale.

“Y, you little rascal. You suddenly ran away……”

“Then I should overturn the Council of Elders first. Even though I said I’d take care of it myself, they’re proceeding with things as they please… I have to cause another incident like a few years ago, it breaks my heart.”

It’s a joke. It must be a joke.

But when Lee Cheol said it, it sounded terrifying.

“Anyway, let’s go back now.”

I smiled and said that.

We finished our greetings with the Black Tortoise Clan members and soon parted ways.

Just before leaving, I turned my head and looked at Anastasya.

She smiled brightly and held out her hand to me.

The ring that I had personally put on her hand was sparkling.