Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 120

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 120

I know her.

Anyone in South Korea who wields a sword couldn’t possibly *not* know her.

‘Baek Gyeong-hui.’

The third child of the Baek family, a prestigious swordsmanship lineage in South Korea, the mistress of Sungmu Yi Ga [a renowned martial arts clan], Madam Baek’s younger sister.

And, concurrently, the person who has been leading the South Korean Hunter Association for several years.

I didn’t say something foolish like, “Why are you here…”

The background context was understood simply by Baek Gyeong-hui’s presence in this place.

‘It’s also to treat me with respect… but they deliberately sent her.’

Various political reasons were vividly drawn before my eyes.

The head of the Hunter Association would have considerable influence on the government side and would naturally have ties with large forces.

At the same time, the incomprehensible information and technology of the Black Crow Society became somewhat understandable.

“You seem a little surprised.”

Baek Gyeong-hui smiled.

I also smiled comfortably and replied.

“To think that the president of the Hunter Association was one of the crows, I can’t help but be surprised.”

“I am the head of the Black Crow Society’s main branch and also in charge of the Hunter Association. Shall we introduce ourselves first? Nice to meet you, Young Master Lee Cheol.”

Baek Gyeong-hui extended her hand.

A hand covered in calluses.

I knew that she had realized her lack of talent in martial arts early on and chose the path of a politician, but it seemed she hadn’t given up on training entirely.

I accepted the offered handshake.

“Nice to meet you.”

Baek Gyeong-hui let go of my hand and gave a strange smile.

“It seems you are using the identification card our side made quite well.”

“Yes, I don’t use it often, but I use it when there are many things I can’t do because of my age.”

“I see. I heard you used it this time when entering a dangerous zone?”

“Yes, I had some business inside.”

Baek Gyeong-hui naturally got up and brought coffee and tea.

Coffee for herself, tea for me.

I quietly looked down at the tea placed in front of me.

“I heard there’s a big commotion in the Hallasan dangerous zone. Were you okay?”

“Fortunately, nothing happened. I went in for training, but I was surprised by the sudden commotion.”

“Still, seeing you diligently doing your *musa* [martial artist] training, I respect you as a fellow traveler on the path of martial arts.”

“I’m not at a level where I can hear such words from the association president.”

It could be a conversation that seems meaningless, but I was feeling what was contained in that conversation.

‘She’s gauging me…’

I let the probing remarks flow by appropriately.

I hadn’t experienced it for a while after leaving the family, but meeting such an opponent made me feel a different kind of tension.

But in any case, the opponent is a much more experienced person than me.

It is necessary to take the initiative in the conversation in advance.

The one asking questions had to be me, not the other side.

“But there’s one thing I want to make clear.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“I don’t know what to call you. Association president? Or should I call you the head of the Black Crow Society’s Korean branch?”

It was a question asking in what capacity she came to this place.

Baek Gyeong-hui’s eyes narrowed slightly at my question.

But soon she answered with a calm face.

“You can call me whichever you prefer.”

“I see. Then I’ll call you the head of the branch.”

“Yes, if that’s more comfortable for you.”

“Then, Head of the Branch, I’d like to get to the point.”

I immediately seized control of the conversation.

Baek Gyeong-hui’s expression wavered again for a moment, but she soon regained her composure.

“Please speak.”

“Why have you been chasing me so persistently?”

“Haha, it was Young Master who came to us.”

“Well, that’s true today. But the reason I came was provided by the Black Crow Society first. I found it strange. I haven’t done anything to provoke the Black Crow Society, but suddenly I was being followed.”

“…….”

Baek Gyeong-hui remained silent for a moment, maintaining her mysterious smile.

‘I’ve heard the stories, but it doesn’t feel like I’m talking to a 15-year-old boy.’

Due to the Sungmu Yi Ga’s bloodline’s unique rapid growth, he looks a little older than his age, but in any case, Lee Cheol is still just a boy.

But he naturally snatched the reins of the conversation and feigned ignorance.

Saying he doesn’t know the reason they came to him, and even complaining about being followed.

These words don’t suit a 15-year-old, but he feels quite experienced.

Are all the direct descendants of Sungmu Yi Ga like that boy?

‘I couldn’t have taken the initiative anyway.’

I was wary because of the stories I had heard about Lee Cheol and tried to seize the flow of the conversation in advance, but the reins naturally passed to the other side.

Now that it has come to this, I had to take the initiative to speak, even if it meant taking a loss.

“Let’s stop testing each other.”

Baek Gyeong-hui spoke first.

“I think you already know why we came.”

I looked at Baek Gyeong-hui and took a sip of tea.

I didn’t bother to speak.

Baek Gyeong-hui looked at me and continued to speak.

“To be honest, the fact that you brought up that story means that you are willing to make a deal with our society in some way. If so, please give us certainty.”

“What kind of certainty are you talking about?”

“We have already found out that Sungmu Yi Ga does not know that information. That means you obtained that information without the power of your family.”

I nodded.

In fact, Sungmu Yi Ga will not know the story related to the head of the Black Crow Society ‘in detail’.

“The fact that you, who are only doing *musa* training, found out something that even Sungmu Yi Ga couldn’t find out. No matter how outstanding you are, we cannot judge whether it is just a random story or whether you actually know it.”

Baek Gyeong-hui took a sip of coffee and calmly finished her words.

“If you really intend to make a deal, please give us certainty.”

I tapped the cup for a moment.

It’s okay to provoke and gain an advantage, or to lead the deal by showing favor.

I have the reins.

No matter how experienced the opponent is, they are not in a situation where they can do anything to me.

“Okay. Then let me say this first. I know about the disease that has been passed down through generations to the head of the Black Crow Society.”

“A disease… are you sure?”

I smiled at Baek Gyeong-hui’s words.

“I thought you said we should stop testing each other.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I understand. If I had to say it, I know it’s not a disease but a side effect. And the reason for the existence of the Black Crow Society is also to treat that disease.”

Baek Gyeong-hui’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

Crack! Trickle!

Without realizing it, she put strength into her hand, and a crack formed in the coffee cup.

By the time coffee was leaking through the crack, Baek Gyeong-hui came to her senses.

“…Excuse me.”

Baek Gyeong-hui put the cup aside and looked at me again.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you find out about that fact?”

I looked at the confused Baek Gyeong-hui and just smiled.

“Does an information organization want to hear information without any compensation?”

“Will you tell me if I pay the price?”

A question unlike her.

It’s the same as asking for information about my regression.

The value of that information… cannot be repaid by the Black Crow Society alone.

“Unfortunately, if you pay the price to find out how I found out, you won’t be able to pay the price for treatment.”

“…Huh.”

Baek Gyeong-hui let out a hollow laugh and relaxed her body.

‘She’s not going to tell me.’

Well, asking about the route I got the information from was a bit of a line crossing.

At that time, Lee Cheol took the last sip of tea left in the teacup and said.

“I think I’ve said enough. Are you convinced that I know now?”

Baek Gyeong-hui silently nodded at those words.

After a very brief moment, Baek Gyeong-hui took a long breath and said.

“Please tell us what you want. I will accept all conditions.”

“First condition.”

Baek Gyeong-hui focused on my lip movements.

And.

“I need to see the head of the Black Crow Society in person.”

Her expression wavered at the following words.

* * *

I was heading inland on a ship prepared by the Black Crow Society in advance.

Although it was already controlled by national forces, it was confidently cutting through the sea with a fairly large ship, as if this much was not difficult.

In fact, I could have given Baek Gyeong-hui the information right there, but in order for it to be used in the right way, I needed to see the head of the Black Crow Society myself.

‘I don’t know how far the Black Crow Society head’s illness has progressed. I’ve only heard about it, but I need to examine it myself to be accurate.’

Black Crow Society.

The impression known to the Black Crow Society at this point is this.

That they are influential information merchants in the East Asian region, that they operate as a point organization, and that they have considerable technology.

But I, who knows the future, knew the inside story of the Black Crow Society.

‘The Black Crow Society didn’t start as information merchants in the first place. Rather, they became an information organization as they did various things to obtain information about the disease passed down through the head’s bloodline.’

The Black Crow Society was an organization created to obtain information about the Black Crow Society head’s disease.

As they handled various information in that situation, the scale gradually increased, and as they went through the modern era, the current Black Crow Society was formed.

In reality, they could expand their power further, but the reason they only exert influence in East Asia is because the cure is in this region.

At the same time, the reason for the formal contracts with unknown standards was also for the same reason.

The Black Crow Society only presented contracts to those who had the potential to find out something about the ‘disease’.

“After landing, we need to go to the airfield. As you already know… the head is unable to fly long distances.”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Are you okay with leaving Korea? Moreover, contacting us… you are in the middle of your *musa* training.”

“It’s okay. The main family’s *musa* training is different from other families’ martial arts training, so it doesn’t matter where I go or who I do what with, as long as I come back stronger. They won’t care as long as I don’t cause trouble for the family.”

“I see…”

The sensibilities of Sungmu Yi Ga are certainly a bit difficult for outsiders to accept.

“…….”

Baek Gyeong-hui was standing next to me with an expression that she had many questions.

But she couldn’t ask first and just stood there awkwardly with an uncomfortable expression.

‘She certainly looks a lot like Madam Baek.’

From her distinct features to her somewhat sharp eyes, they were quite similar.

However, the two are not full biological sisters.

In fact, Baek Gyeong-hui was in a similar situation to me, although it was not openly known to the general public.

“Are you serving the head because of your status as well?”

Baek Gyeong-hui’s expression trembled for a moment at my sudden question.

“…You already knew.”

“There are many stories you hear when you are in the family.”

Baek Gyeong-hui looked at the horizon.

Although she was on a ship, she could see the land or islands in the distance if she turned her eyes a little.

Looking at those islands, Baek Gyeong-hui said quietly.

“If you are worried about the relationship between my older sister and me, you don’t have to worry about that. I can count the number of times I’ve talked to her in my entire life on one hand.”

In the sensibilities of the 21st century, the idea of illegitimate or legitimate children seems absurd, but even after the Great War, there was still a perception of concubines.

Moreover, such tendencies are even more severe in families or martial clans that walk on the edge of a blade.

It’s an anachronistic thought, but there are still places where it continues.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Baek Gyeong-hui nodded at my words.

“Yes, I know. And… it’s similar to what you guessed. I received an unpayable favor from the previous head of the Black Crow Society, and I am receiving it from the current head as well.”

Baek Gyeong-hui swept the railing.

“That’s why I’m desperately hoping.”

Baek Gyeong-hui looked at me, expressing her sincere voice for almost the first time.

“I hope that your information can improve the head’s condition.”

“It won’t just be improving. However, I can only give you a definite answer if I see it myself.”

“I will believe it because it is the words of the bloodline of Sungmu Yi Ga, not any other place.”

After getting off the ship, I headed north through a private airfield owned by the Black Crow Society.

Further, further up.

Russia.

That was where I was going.