Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 113

Weapon-Devouring Bastard – Episode 113

I quietly slipped away from the festival, following Ryeo.

Perhaps because everyone was so caught up in the excitement, no one seemed to notice Ryeo and I leaving.

“When you first came here, you asked me a few questions.”

When I saved the Gyeongchangyung trio and first entered the village, I had asked Ryeo several questions.

I received the answer to the most important question about the Black Night’s seal and completed the test, but not all my questions were resolved.

“Now that we’re far enough away, no one should be able to hear us. Ask whatever you want now.”

Ryeo’s face was still flushed from the alcohol.

Yet, her eyes were as clear as ever.

“Before I ask, there’s something I’d like to show you.”

I headed to the residential tree with Ryeo, where my luggage was.

I unpacked my things and took out what I had prepared in advance.

Three volumes of bamboo scrolls.

The Black Night Records, divided into three parts.

“What is this?”

“It’s called the Black Night Records. I learned about you, Elder, and this Black Night through this. This robe was left by my ancestor, the owner of Eunhan, for future generations… no, for me.”

Ryeo nodded silently and opened the Black Night Records.

The first volume didn’t contain much important information, so she quickly skipped through it.

The second volume contained information about the Black Night, goblins, and Tamra Kingdom, or Jeju Island [a volcanic island off the Korean Peninsula, known for its natural beauty].

And then.

“It’s erased.”

Missing parts began to appear.

Nouns or objects, parts referring to certain beings.

I could guess that much from the context.

‘There were also missing parts in the records I saw in the family’s library.’

Even in the ancient documents about Mangwisan and Mujin, only vague descriptions remained, with erased parts.

At the time, I thought it was just damage from the passage of time, but perhaps that wasn’t the case.

“I believe the Black Night was created to cut down that erased ‘something.’ Do you happen to know what that is?”

Ryeo silently continued reading.

It took me a long time to interpret it, even with researching historical materials and receiving help, but Ryeo, being a person who lived through that era, read through it quickly.

However.

“Well, I’ve read it to some extent. To give you the conclusion, as I said before, I don’t know that part well either.”

Her answer didn’t meet my expectations either.

The secret of that erased part remained a mystery.

“Contextually, it seems to be more of an object or a living being rather than a space…”

In essence, she didn’t know what it was.

Ryeo seemed to realize the meaning of her words and glanced at me before continuing.

“There’s nothing certain. In the end, you’ll have to find out about this question through the Black Night yourself. Hmm, but…”

Ryeo suddenly shuddered as if something had come to mind.

“Did something come to mind?”

“No, it’s nothing. It’s a useless story.”

Ryeo waved her hand with a reluctant expression.

“I would appreciate it if you could tell me anything, no matter how small.”

I quietly watched Ryeo.

Under my gaze, Ryeo reluctantly opened her mouth.

“Sigh, it’s really a useless story, you know.”

Ryeo fiddled with the erased part of the Black Night Records.

“This part. It’s not that someone erased it. Or that it was naturally erased by time, isn’t it?”

It was too cleanly erased to say that someone intentionally erased that part, and the meaning of the Black Night Records would be diminished if it was made that way from the beginning.

“I don’t know if it’s related to this, but I just suddenly remembered an old story that the village elders used to tell.”

If Ryeo, who has lived since ancient times, is talking about her childhood, how far back in the past would that be?

Ryeo continued with a reluctant face.

“Well, it’s just an old story… it’s just a nonsensical song.”

“It doesn’t matter. I want to hear even a nonsensical story.”

At my words, Ryeo frowned slightly and then sighed before opening her mouth.

“Have you ever heard of a huge hole said to be drilled in the distant sea beyond the eastern sea, beyond Waeguk (倭國) [an ancient name for Japan]?”

“If you’re talking about the Blue Hole… the Magic Realm, yes, I know about it.”

Far away in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

There is a huge hole that no one knows when or how it was drilled.

Modern people study the few ancient records and speculate that it was the place where monsters first appeared.

“It’s an old story related to that place, or a song.”

Long ago, terrible things jumped out of a deep cave.

The sky opened and the world changed.

But no one remembers that time.

Nothing remains.

Little goblin.

Don’t cry.

A beast will come and swallow you in one bite.

If that happens, no one will remember you….”

Ryeo spoke with a bit of rhythm, as if singing a song.

Ryeo coughed softly, as if embarrassed.

“The village elders used to scare me with this song when I tried to wander around at night sometimes. They said those scary beasts would come and eat me…”

“It’s a bit of a scary story to tell a child…”

“It was. I just suddenly remembered it.”

Is it really just an old song?

I closed my mouth for a moment and engraved the lyrics in my mind.

“Let’s stop with this story and read the rest now.”

Ryeo continued to read the Black Night Records.

After a little time, Ryeo took her eyes off the Black Night Records.

“Actually, this back story might be more important to you.”

“What is it about?”

I was roughly guessing what it was about, but I had to hear the exact details.

“There are some words I don’t know either… roughly, it’s about your family’s founder.”

My eyes flashed.

I recalled the line I had heard in my previous life that was written in the Black Night Records.

Because of that one line, my eldest brother continued to research the Black Night Records, and the status of the Black Night rapidly increased in the family.

I also discovered the Black Night Records and interpreted that sentence first, and the content was as follows.

-At the final destination guided by the Black Night’s seal.

-My father’s… will be there. This can also be… I hope this record remains.

It had reached my ears in my previous life, so it meant that most of the family knew about it.

That meant the legitimacy of Soongmoo Yi family.

“Come here and look together. I’ll interpret it line by line for you.”

I sat next to Ryeo and imprinted the sentences on the unfolded bamboo scroll into my eyes.

-I know the identity of the Black Night.

The last volume began with that sentence.

-It is the key and the map, and everything will…

-The Black Night is for… to…

-Everything of my father will be there. The name of the goblin guarding the mountain, and all the secrets of our family that have not been revealed….

Could it be that legitimacy meant such a thing?

The reason I chose the Black Night among those many celestial-grade weapons was right there.

That strong body, that special ability.

No one knows why the bloodline of the Soongmoo Yi family is born with such things.

No matter how great the power of genes is, the characteristics that have not changed over dozens of generations have been regarded as a great mystery to modern scholars.

-And finally, he unraveled the following words.

-At the final destination guided by the Black Night’s seal.

-My father’s last legacy will be there.

-My father will be waiting there.

The voice of Yi Hyangseon, the ancestor who called Yi Hyulhyun the founder a bystander, seemed to echo in my ears.

I took a long breath.

Now, even the last volume of the Black Night Records was finally connected.

-Now that I have written all the secrets I know here.

-Descendant who will unravel all the secrets of the Black Night and reach its end.

-I wish you good luck on your journey.

-Soongmoo Yi family 2nd generation. Yi Hyangseon.”

Ryeo’s interpretation was over.

I unknowingly rubbed the last sentence with my hand.

“By the way, does that mean that the name of this stupid bastard will also come out if you follow the seal of that sword?”

Ryeo suddenly began to grumble.

“Anyway, you moronic kid. You lost your name for nothing.”

Names like Ryeo or Gyeongchangyung were not their real names.

The goblins’ real names are only known to themselves, and the Mountain Keeper’s name was taken away by the founder.

“Ahem, I’m not one to say this, but… perhaps…”

“Don’t worry. I also owe the Mountain Keeper a debt, so if I can get his name back, I’ll return it.”

But I won’t return it for free.

Embarrassed, Ryeo coughed softly again.

“Ahem! There’s no need to return it. That guy has to suffer for another thousand years!”

I smiled slightly.

A moment of silence fell.

Ryeo handed me the Black Night Records.

I received them, resealed them, and put them back in my luggage.

“Do you have any other questions?”

Ryeo had already brought a bottle of alcohol and poured it down her throat.

I closed my mouth for a moment.

There was a remaining question.

I didn’t know if I would get an answer, but I put the question into words.

“Please tell me about the Elder.”

* * *

The old goblin was watching the festival scene from a place far away from the village.

The human who had talked to Ryeo was walking back into the village, wondering what they had talked about.

As the human entered, the festival became even more lively.

“Hyung [Korean term for older brother or male friend]! What is this! It’s so amazing!”

“Wow! Click, click! It even takes pictures of faces!”

“It’s called a smartphone! Isn’t it amazing?”

The young goblins of the village were mingling with humans like family.

Even though it was a distance away, the goblin could fully feel the many emotions floating around in the festival.

“Hey! Are you any good at ssireum [Korean wrestling]? How about a match!”

“Alright. But it’s no fun without a bet, right?”

“Oh ho. A mere human is betting against a goblin?”

Numerous races mingling with humans.

The goblin delved into very old memories at the sight.

There was an era when humans and goblins mingled.

It was a beautiful memory.

But it was also a very old memory.

That old memory and the scene in front of him began to overlap.

But at that moment.

Kwaaaang!

A roar that couldn’t be heard was replayed in his head.

The illusion of the happy-looking village in front of him burning down overlapped.

The forest was burning, screams never stopped in the village, and the smell of blood and gunpowder was so thick.

The goblin couldn’t escape.

‘We’ couldn’t escape.

The goblin was waiting for the human.

The human would come.

He thought that he just had to wait until then.

In the end, only I remained.

And.

And….

“….”

The old goblin squeezed his eyes shut.

The sight of the festival, which was already nearing its end, was visible in the eyes of the goblin who slowly stood up.

The goblin slowly moved his steps.

* * *

Eventually, the festival, which had continued until the drunken goblins and dwarves collapsed, came to an end as the elves went to bed one by one.

After the festival ended, only silence filled the village.

Goblins who didn’t have residential trees were just lying down anywhere, using the sky as a blanket, but I didn’t feel like camping out, so I returned home.

‘I wanted to try the elves’ alcohol.’

I was fine, but Ryeo strongly dissuaded me, so I couldn’t even taste it.

Still, I was just thinking that I might be able to get some if I asked once before leaving.

At that time.

Flint.

The hair on my whole body seemed to stand on end.

I felt someone had come to the door, at the entrance.

And I could guess who had come.

I calmed my emotions, quietly got up, reopened the door, and headed outside.

“Human child.”

There, the goblin who had chased me out was standing with a hardened face, bathed in the moonlight.