Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 341

After the Succession Ceremony, a banquet was held at Soongmoo House.

The banquet was as grand as the Succession Ceremony itself.

Influential figures from all walks of life were engaging in conversation in a seemingly amicable atmosphere.

‘My uncle was right.’

The banquet hall of Soongmoo House, as I saw it, was a miniature version of international diplomacy.

They were exchanging all sorts of information and verbal weapons with smiling faces.

‘In the increasingly frozen international situation, there hasn’t been a venue for the leaders of each organization to gather and interact,’ he said.

Lee Tae-hong, my uncle, wanted to create that venue through my Succession Ceremony.

And the main family becomes the protagonist who created the place for them to gather.

Always at the apex, and at the center.

That was how someone who reads and coordinates the trend handles things.

It was something to observe and learn, and the path I had to take in the future.

The banquet was scheduled to last for three days.

The reason for setting such a long schedule was also to extend this venue of diplomacy.

……Father did not attend the banquet.

The reason was that he was not feeling well.

Most people, including the elders, seemed to accept it lightly.

They probably thought it was a convenient excuse.

‘But…….’

I thought that what Father said might not be an excuse, but the truth.

“Lee Chul?”

Then, Anastasia subtly called me.

“Yes, Anastasia.”

“Is something wrong?”

She gently took my hand and sent me a worried look.

I gave a bitter smile.

Even though I thought I wasn’t showing it because it was a banquet, Anastasia next to me seemed to have sensed my mood.

“I’m fine. I just have a lot on my mind.”

“……Another thing you can’t tell me?”

Anastasia said carefully.

I paused for a moment at those words.

‘Come to think of it, I often had to hide a lot from her.’

I looked at Anastasia for a moment.

And shook my head.

“Later.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll tell you after the banquet. It wasn’t a big concern. From now on, I’ll tell you everything without hiding anything.”

Anastasia’s eyes widened for a moment at those words, then she smiled brightly.

“I think I made a good engagement. Lee Chul is changing like this.”

“Are you regretting it, by any chance?”

“Well…… it’s a secret.”

“Yes?”

Anastasia cheered for victory in her heart.

Celebrating that it was a good push and pull.

I had to laugh at Anastasia’s meaningful words.

“Anyway, why are you so lost in thought? You finally became the head of the family you’ve been wanting. You should enjoy it.”

Yes, I should enjoy it.

I struggled my whole life, and I won, so all that’s left is to enjoy it.

It was then.

“It looks good, maknae [youngest sibling]. And the sister-in-law, too.”

“Second Sister. You’ve arrived?”

My second sister came to us.

I said in a playful tone.

“Sister. Now that I’m the head of the family, you shouldn’t call me maknae, should you?”

“Oops, that’s right. I’m just not used to it.”

“I’m just kidding. Call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“No. We have to keep what we have to keep. Head of the Family.”

My second sister didn’t say much.

She just looked at me with the same competitive expression as always.

“Congratulations. Head of the Family. That’s what I came to say.”

I felt a little creeped out by my second sister’s formal language.

But I have to get used to it.

I smiled and nodded.

“Thank you, Sister.”

“And one more thing. You’re not going to stop competing with me just because you’ve become the head of the family, are you?”

Was that the reason for the competitiveness in her eyes?

“Of course not. Come anytime.”

“Hahaha! Then I should be going. I, no, I don’t really like these kinds of events. Sister-in-law, see you later.”

My second sister waved her hand and walked away.

My second sister, who also aimed to be the head of the family like me.

A person who might have ruled the world as a female head of the family if it weren’t for this era.

‘Thank you. Second Sister.’

I slightly bowed my head towards my sister’s back.

The banquet continued after that.

Anastasia and I didn’t bother going around to meet the guests.

Usually, we, the protagonists of the event, should move around as a courtesy, but they kept coming to me.

“Head of the Family Lee Chul. It’s been a while. I’m Justin Garrett. Do you remember me?”

“Of course. Weren’t you the one who placed third in the Grand Melee?”

“Wow! You really remember me. Anyway…….”

From relationships that passed by a long time ago.

“Nice to meet you, Head of the Family. I’m Samuel Johnson, the Minister of State for Australia. I hope Soongmoo House has endless glory.”

To people I’ve never met before.

There were so many people coming to greet me that I felt like I was just shaking hands all day.

But in fact, it couldn’t be helped.

‘Soongmoo House will be the center of the era.’

‘I have to keep it in check…… I have to, but it’s probably going to be difficult. It’s hard to stop Soongmoo House’s dominance.’

‘The combination of the Black Tortoise and Soongmoo House…… and Lee Tae-shin has returned, so it’s better to build a friendly relationship in advance.’

Being in this place meant that they were at least insightful and knew how to read the trends.

Their thoughts were different, but they wanted to gauge Lee Chul and seize the direction of the organization they belonged to.

Knowingly or unknowingly, they were already thinking with Lee Chul at the center.

It was a night when the banquet was deepening.

“It’s been a while, Lee Chul. Congratulations on becoming the head of the family.”

I was able to welcome a happy friend.

Ron Russell.

The next head of the Russell family, a young man I hadn’t seen since the Aerial Fortress, appeared before me.

* * *

“Ron, it’s been a while.”

“Yes, Lee Chul.”

“You’ve become stronger.”

“You look like it too.”

“Can you compare to Lee Chul? I still have a long way to go.”

Still have a long way to go.

No way.

I sensed a strong aura floating around Ron.

It’s the realm of Sword Heart.

And this unique flow of magic that I feel is a characteristic only felt by those who have awakened the Mana Furnace.

“This is Anastasia. The head of the Black Tortoise. It’s your first time seeing her, right?”

“Ah, I see. Nice to meet you, Lady. I’m Ron from the Russell family, a friend of Lee Chul.”

“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

I naturally introduced Anastasia, and Ron greeted her with a cool smile.

I subtly stepped in front of Anastasia and glared at Ron.

“Don’t give my fiancée a flirty smile.”

“Yes? When did I do that?”

“You just did.”

I glared at Ron with a displeased expression, and Ron just blinked.

At that moment, Ron saw Anastasia blushing next to Lee Chul.

‘Hehe, I didn’t know Lee Chul had this side to him. And this lady is just head over heels for him.’

It was a good-looking couple.

Well, Ron remembered the expression Lee Chul had when he was in contact with the head of the Black Tortoise when he was acting with Lee Chul.

“How have you been?”

Suddenly, I erased my playfulness and asked.

Ron nodded silently.

“Yes, of course. I heard that Lee Chul has been through a lot.”

I soon looked at Ron silently.

Until a few years ago, Ron was just a reliable friend.

But as time passed, we were no longer in a relationship where we could just be friendly and have a comfortable conversation.

In the silence, we both felt that there was something to talk about, but we were wondering who should bring up what first.

Sighing, I opened my mouth first.

“Ron, instead of this small talk, let me ask you one thing.”

“……Yes, Lee Chul. Tell me.”

“Do you think the path you’re taking is right?”

I hated dragging things out.

So, I asked directly.

“You knew.”

“Yes.”

I already know that Ron has joined the Dawn Society.

In the first place, there was no way that Ron, the son, would have rejected the beliefs of his father, Henry Russell.

“I…… I certainly think there are radical aspects. But I agree with the values they put forward. Lee Chul knows that too.”

“Yes, you and I only disagree on small parts.”

I plan to embrace the different races.

On the other hand, the Dawn Society wanted to cut off the races after managing them.

“If there is another answer that is different from this.”

Ron looked straight at me and said.

“I will follow that answer. As always, for the sake of the cause. But apart from that…… I want to be Lee Chul’s friend and a reliable ally.”

It was a very Ron-like answer, and I even felt grateful to him for the words that followed.

“I feel the same way.”

After a while, I reached out to Ron.

Ron also took my hand.

“Thank you for coming.”

“What are you talking about? Of course, I had to come. I’ve taken up too much of your time. I’ll be on my way.”

Just as Ron was about to step back with a light bow.

“Ah, come to think of it. Jang Han had something to tell you.”

“Jang Han? Come to think of it, where did that guy go?”

“He said he had something urgent to do and left. He told me to tell you in a very low voice, ‘I’ll congratulate you. But I was the Nine Dragons Fortress Lord earlier than you.’”

I burst into a low laugh.

He was such a transparent guy.

* * *

The night of the banquet was deepening.

Anastasia was talking to the heads of several intelligence organizations as the head of the Black Tortoise.

I took a break for a moment and looked around the banquet hall.

‘Choi In-ha. He’s surprisingly popular.’

Choi In-ha, Kim Bo-sung, and Kim Han.

The three of them were talking to several women.

Well, they were guys who had everything they needed.

They were older than me, so it was time for them to get married, and I thought it was a good time.

‘Valerie…… she didn’t come after all. Well, she’d be self-conscious.’

Valerie, who was from the Eiffel Magic Tower, seemed to be holed up in her lab.

I thought I should ask my nanny to send her some chicken later.

And then, it was then.

“Lee Chul.”

A familiar voice.

I smiled and turned around.

“Serena. It’s been a while. You’ve arrived.”

“……Yes, it’s been a while.”

Serena came in a dress that I had never seen before.

It was a bright yellow dress that went well with her golden hair.

“Lee Chul Gong [a formal title, roughly equivalent to ‘Lord’]…… no, now you’re Head of the Family Lee Chul. It’s been a while. May God’s blessings be with you.”

Even Saintess Christina was with her.

“I’m honored that even the Saintess has come. It’s an honor.”

“Of course, I had to come. Is the relationship between Lee Chul and us an ordinary relationship? I’m sure you’ve heard it all day, but congratulations on becoming the head of the family.”

“I could listen to congratulations from the Saintess a hundred times.”

Unlike other organizations, the Holy Kingdom was really like a friend of Soongmoo House.

I could also sincerely rejoice in the congratulations.

“Anyway, I was wondering when you two would come.”

I already knew that the two of them were in the delegation of the Holy Kingdom.

However, they didn’t come until the banquet was nearing its end, so I was even thinking of going to find them first.

“This child was a little hesitant.”

“Yes?”

“It’s nothing. Anyway, congratulations, Young Master Lee Chul. I’ll go first, so have a conversation with Serena.”

Saintess Christina smiled softly as always and gave way.

I needed to talk to Saintess Christina a little more, but I was a little disappointed.

Because the relationship with the Holy Kingdom needed to be re-established.

“Lee Chul.”

“Yes, Serena.”

“You’ve gone to a…… distant place again.”

“Serena, you’ve become even stronger in the meantime.”

She is considered the next Saintess.

She was the person who was compared to Lee Seo-hyun in her previous life, and she was even said to be the new sword of the Holy Kingdom, although not as good as Ron.

I couldn’t help but admire her achievements, which were even stronger than before.

“Is that so? Yes, that’s right. Thank you, Lee Chul.”

Serena hesitated and then gave a bright smile.

“Did something happen?”

“Something…… no. It’s nothing. Now, I think I’m okay.”

They were incomprehensible words.

She looked at me with an expression that seemed to have sorted out her feelings.

And soon, she opened her mouth again.

“Lee Chul. We’re still friends, right?”

“Of course.”

At my words, Serena nodded with a somewhat lonely expression.

“Yes, that’s all I need.”

The conversation was cut off for a moment.

Serena put the wine she was holding on the table and put on a serious expression.

“More than that, I have something to tell Lee Chul. I’m sorry to come to the Succession Ceremony and say these things, but it’s a story I have to tell.”

“Yes, what’s going on?”

“There was a prophecy.”

A prophecy.

I immediately understood what she meant and shone my eyes.

“Perhaps, it will be the last prophecy. It seems that the Saintess will pass away in the near future.”

“That…….”

“I’ll tell you the contents of the prophecy. It’s something Lee Chul needs to hear.”

Serena’s voice lowered.

A faint magic power settled on her lips.

The voice containing magic was directly transmitted to my ear.

-With the guidance of the black dragon, the sinners opened a hole, and from there, the beast of the apocalypse will awaken.

As always, a prophecy organized with abstract language.