Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 105

Weapon-Eating Bastard 105

Quite some time had passed since I entered the forest.

As I kept a close watch on my surroundings, the ground suddenly gave way, and a mole-like monster appeared.

-Kieeeek!

Having sensed it coming, I plunged Mujin, shaped like a staff, into the ground and leaped up like a pole vaulter.

-Tweeek

Finding no prey where it expected, the monster let out a strange snort and looked around for me.

By then, I had already deployed a mirage to conceal my presence.

Only after confirming that the monster had burrowed back underground did I start moving again.

‘Defeating it is simple, but…’

I didn’t want to cause a disturbance without knowing the goblin’s intentions.

Moreover, with the need to maintain my Mystic Eyes constantly while climbing the mountain, mana distribution was paramount.

It would be problematic to waste mana on such trivial matters.

‘Hmm…’

Walking through the forest at night consumes a surprising amount of mental energy.

Especially in a place where the space shifts with a single misstep and monsters pop out.

I averted my gaze from the monster and resumed walking.

Whoosh!

But at that moment, the scenery changed drastically again.

Just because I briefly deviated from my course to avoid the monster, the magic was triggered again.

What was a lush forest just moments ago had turned into a swamp.

‘From mountain path to swamp…’

I sighed and continued walking.

My feet sank deep into the squelching mud.

It was even harder to take steps than on the mountain path.

‘It’s fortunate I have Eunhan, at least.’

Thankfully, Eunhan blocked the forest’s sweltering heat and humidity, allowing me to move comfortably.

The constant use of the Mystic Eyes was draining my mana quite quickly, but thanks to the dense mana spread throughout Hallasan [a dormant volcano and national park on Jeju Island, South Korea], it replenished as quickly as it was consumed.

Unless I engaged in combat, maintaining my mana wouldn’t be a problem.

I continued walking slowly, thinking about the goblin I had seen earlier.

‘A blacksmith deity who forged Heukya.’

There are many goblin legends, but the legend of the blacksmith deity is quite rare.

Moreover, if he had indeed forged Heukya, there was something that didn’t quite add up.

‘It might be a distorted tale, but I thought Heukya was brought by the founder from the uncharted lands.’

If the goblin had forged it, why was it known that way?

No, before that, what was the material of Heukya in the first place, and how was it forged to have circuits similar to those of humans inside and the ability to cut through mana?

Just then.

Kee-hee-hee!

A laughter like that of a child.

From behind, in the corner of the swamp.

I naturally turned my head.

Something like a blue light flickered and disappeared.

‘That sound again.’

It wasn’t like this in the morning, but as soon as I entered in the evening, that laughter followed me from the forest’s entrance.

After staring at the spot where the light had disappeared for a while, I shook my head and started walking again.

‘If the energy spread throughout Hallasan is ultimately the magic cast by the goblin, there must be a pattern or flow to it. Once I get used to it, finding my way forward won’t be difficult.’

The problem is getting used to it is difficult.

I didn’t return to the mountain thinking it would be over in a day or two anyway.

It will definitely be a long-term battle, so for now…

Thud!

Suddenly, my foot was sucked deep into the swamp.

-Boooeeeek!

A level 6 monster, Swamp Devil.

A green-skinned monster that appears in swamps and wetlands.

In Eastern cultures, it is called Su Gui (Water Ghost), Haehwasang (Sea Monk), Kappa (River Child), and so on.

Overall, it resembled a goblin with long, frog-like limbs and a bald spot on the crown of its head, like someone with alopecia.

“……”

Thanks to it, water rushed into my already damp boots and socks.

-Booheehee!

The sound of it laughing mockingly instantly made me annoyed.

-Boohek!

The Swamp Devil, as if playing a trick, leaped back into the swamp without targeting me.

No, it tried to leap.

Thunk!

It bounced off the surface of the water as if blocked by an invisible barrier.

-Booek?

“I was going to let it go, but… not you.”

A look of bewilderment flickered in the Swamp Devil’s slit eyes.

It clearly set the trap, but it couldn’t understand why its prey was acting like this.

-Booeeeek!

The Swamp Devil aimed for my neck with its jagged, tooth-like teeth.

Clang!

But I was already covered in aura.

The Swamp Devil’s sharp teeth shattered, and instead of grabbing Mujin, I clenched my fist.

Pow!

The Swamp Devil’s face was crushed as it flew through the air.

-Ki, kieek!

The Swamp Devil trembled and backed away.

But I quickly grabbed its neck and pulled it back up.

“Where are you going? I won’t kill you. Don’t worry.”

Smirk.

I smiled.

Kee-hee!

The laughter was heard again, but I focused on swinging my fist first.

-Kieeeeeek!

Kee-hee-hee!

When I dealt with the Swamp Devil, the laughter was heard again.

* * *

Two days had passed since I entered Hallasan.

I sighed as I tore open a packet of ramen with a strong artificial flavor.

‘It’s sickening.’

As with most combat rations, it was ridiculously salty.

It made me quite thirsty.

I tried to ignore the thirst and estimated the weight of my lighter backpack.

‘I need to find a water source.’

If I rationed it, I wouldn’t run out of water, but considering the hot weather, I needed a sufficient supply of water.

If I couldn’t find a place to replenish water or food, or achieve my goal, I had to consider the amount I would need for the return trip.

‘It’s already the second day, and it’s not showing up.’

I tried to find the flow of water with my Mystic Eyes.

‘I miss Red Steel.’

Come to think of it, it was like this in Red Steel too.

Back then, at least supplies were provided, and it wasn’t difficult to find food by fishing or hunting.

But I couldn’t expect that here.

‘Let’s look for water until today, and if there’s still none, I’ll go back and recharge before coming out again.’

Fortunately, I was slowly getting used to this enchanted mountain.

At least I wasn’t getting lost as often as when I first arrived.

‘Hmm?’

I detected a faint stream of energy in the hazy air.

I moved towards the direction of that energy.

The air in the mountain was already humid, but it was getting even more humid.

With the ground this damp, there was no way there wouldn’t be water.

And finally, to my ears.

Swish…….

The sound of flowing water was heard.

It was a stream with a depth up to my waist.

The water quality looked good enough to see the bottom at a glance.

A smile naturally spread across my face.

“Found it.”

I immediately put down my luggage, grinned, and gulped down the flowing stream water.

The water that had been coolly quenching my throat from the stuffiness I had felt while walking through the mountains….

“Seriously? Are you kidding me? It’s lukewarm?”

…didn’t go down.

No matter how hot the weather was, how could stream water be warm?

Does that even make sense?

‘Okay, let’s think positively. At least I found water. Even with all the yang energy, how can stream water be hot?’

For now, it was fortunate that I found water, even if it was lukewarm.

I started a fire to dry my damp boots and lightly washed my body in the stream.

My body was already hot, so the lukewarm water wasn’t very pleasant, but I was grateful for what I had.

Whoosh! Poof!

I shook off all the moisture with mana and sat on a large rock.

‘The magic is weak here.’

Is it because it’s a water source, or is there another reason?

The magic that covered Hallasan and the surrounding area was faint around this stream.

I had been relaxed because I knew that, but now that I think about it, something was strange.

‘Hmm…’

Either way, it didn’t matter.

Now I could use this place as a base camp and continue my search.

If I simply camouflaged my backpack to make it a hideout and looked around, I could probably survive in the mountains for quite some time.

‘I’ve been searching for three days, including the first day… let’s rest for now.’

I carved wood to build a makeshift hut and laid hay on the floor to create a simple space to rest.

Maintaining minimal tension so I could react immediately before a monster approached, I slowly closed my eyes.

A long-awaited rest.

…it should have been.

Kee-hee-hee!

Heh-heh!

Kee-hee-hee!

That strange laughter that I heard every night is heard again.

I’m definitely not hearing things, but at this point, I want to doubt my sanity.

‘…Whatever.’

I maintained my composure and closed my eyes again.

I had already trained to be able to sleep in any situation.

I’m not going to be swayed by this.

Perhaps because my body was tired, sleep came as soon as I closed my eyes.

And.

-Kieek!

“……”

The unique presence of a monster was caught by my sixth sense.

I grabbed Heukya, which I had placed beside me, and Mujin, which I had on my finger, and got up.

“I’m going to….”

And as I moved towards the sound of the monster’s cry, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

-Kruuk tuk! Ik!

-Geuk! Kick!

‘A demon species?’

Horns, reptile-like wings, and even communicating with each other as if they had intelligence.

What was there was clearly a demon-type monster.

‘A demon species?’

O’wura and San Yeo are not monsters that can be seen in Korea, but I didn’t think it was strange because monsters are twisted beings.

But not those.

A demon species.

This is, after all, the sacred mountain of the nation.

The final destination and turning point of all the spiritual energy of the Korean Peninsula.

I couldn’t understand why there were so many monsters in such a place, but it was even more incomprehensible that demon species were running rampant.

-Kieeeek! Kurook!

-Kyayak!

Two demon species urgently exchanged something.

I hid in the bushes and observed them.

‘Three horns. Two pairs of wings. Then it’s at least a level 5 monster, maybe even a level 4 monster….’

If the dragon race is treated as stronger than monsters of the same rank due to their mana and physical strength, demon species are treated as strong due to their ability to process and use mana and their tricky special abilities.

I hesitated for a moment.

Should I fight?

Should I avoid them?

‘…They’ll be stronger than the other monsters affected by the mountain. There’s no need to provoke them into a fight.’

They would probably be more difficult than the monsters I’ve seen so far.

If that happens, all my efforts to avoid provoking the goblin’s nerves will be in vain.

I was about to turn around after observing the demon species.

That was the moment.

“Kyaaak!”

“Ugh!”

“No, no!”

Screams were heard.