Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 134

Weapon-Devouring Bastard – Chapter 134

Immediately after returning from Tsushima Island, a small commotion arose in the world.

It was inevitable.

The subjugation of Tsushima Island, which had been postponed due to various political and national diplomatic issues, was suddenly resolved.

After sending hunters from the military to investigate, it was revealed that not only the outer coastline and inner forests, where relatively weak monsters were abundant, but also the central and innermost areas were mostly subjugated.

The problem was which organization did it.

The Japanese government, with a dumbfounded expression, stated that it was not them, and Korea’s leading assault teams also shook their heads.

After checking the entry records, a Rank 4 hunter named ‘Lee Cheol-soo’ from Haeundae, Korea, was found.

However, there was no record of him leaving the island, so he was presumed to have died on the island.

In any case, since the only official record of entering the island was a Korean hunter, the Korean government began working behind the scenes to make Tsushima Island Korean territory when it stabilized in the distant future.

The Japanese government was also carrying out similar operations, using the excuse that they had sent an assault team just before.

Meanwhile, the media consistently raised questions about the mysterious Hunter A…

I put down the newspaper with a disgruntled expression.

“I didn’t expect you to do this much for me.”

“If we’re going to do it, we have to do it properly.”

A girl with an aura detached from the world was sitting in front of me.

The world’s first spiritist and the head of the Black Crow Association, an information organization that was making a name for itself in Asia, the Black Crow Matriarch.

“You deliberately didn’t leave a record of leaving the island, and you wanted the subjugation status of the island to be leaked to the media and the military, probably for when you return to your family, right? The Brekia’s bones should be enough as evidence.”

The Black Crow Matriarch smiled.

She’s smart, as expected.

If I had to express it, it felt like the insight of my first brother and the calculations of my seventh brother were mixed in half.

It feels like she understands everything without me having to explain it in detail when I talk about something complicated.

‘Were all the past Black Crow Matriarchs like that?’

She looks like she’s only in her late teens at best.

But her mental age must be several times older than that.

She has lived feeling the world that spirits feel with a human body.

To her, age is really just physical age.

“Anyway, thank you in many ways. I heard you helped me a lot while I was on Tsushima Island.”

“Don’t feel too burdened. We’re getting a lot of help from President Jeong, too. That’s how much President Jeong is a very coveted talent.”

“Is that so? I think I was lucky too. But no matter how much you praise me, I have no intention of letting you go.”

“Hmm, that’s a shame.”

Hehehe.

The Black Crow Matriarch and I smiled at the same time.

Meanwhile, Natalia and Jeong Jin-soo, who were watching the scene from the side, made eye contact and smiled awkwardly.

‘Is that really a conversation between teenagers…’

I was surprised when I found out that the current Black Crow Matriarch was such a young girl… but somehow it made sense.

The Black Crow Matriarch is the same type as Lee Cheol.

You shouldn’t try to understand.

You just have to accept it.

“How is your condition?”

I asked, looking at the Black Crow Matriarch.

“Good. Hmm, no… it’s a little hard.”

“Yes? Is there something wrong?”

The Black Crow Matriarch waved her hand at my words.

“Natalia has been making me exercise a little too hard these days…”

The Black Crow Matriarch glanced at Natalia.

Natalia said with a firm expression.

“It’s all for the Matriarch’s recovery. A proper diet, exercise, and magic training for 3 hours is actually not enough.”

“Still, 3 hours a day… don’t you think that’s too much?”

I blinked at Natalia’s words.

3 hours… isn’t that about right?

I think 6 to 12 hours would be appropriate…

The Black Crow Matriarch glared at me as if she had noticed my thoughts.

“I chose the wrong person to ask to take my side.”

I laughed and took a sip of tea.

“Still, I’m glad you look better. I was worried it would be hard to adapt.”

“Worried… um, yes. Thank you. I’ll work hard on my exercise.”

The Black Crow Matriarch muttered in a low voice at my words and smiled shyly.

The Black Crow Matriarch has really gotten a lot better.

The mysterious atmosphere was still there, but now, no matter how you look at it, she seems like a person.

‘Her complexion seems to be getting better now too.’

Her face, which had been pale white, had a red tinge.

It seems that exercising with Natalia is quite helpful.

After that, we exchanged small talk about our recent activities.

While we were talking, the Black Crow Matriarch looked at me and brought up a new topic.

“By the way, I heard you’re planning to go to Germany this time.”

“I’m planning to attend the World Martial Arts Tournament.”

“Is it because of that weapon?”

“Yes, it is.”

The winner of the World Martial Arts Tournament will be awarded a victory medal along with an old relic as a prize.

It doesn’t usually have any special powers, but it’s a historically significant object.

Although the association of the tournament has stated that it is an indefinite loan rather than a transfer, it was practically giving it away.

And some equipment that I want will be released as a prize for this tournament.

‘In my past life, it wasn’t released as a prize, but it was locked up in a museum and then revealed… did something change because of me?’

It was one of the pieces of equipment that I had thought of in advance that I had to get before going to the Warrior’s Path.

But it came out as a prize for this tournament.

“But… what is that equipment that you asked me to find out about? It’s just an ordinary relic without any special powers.”

“It’s not an ordinary relic. It’s just hiding its appearance. If you can restore it properly, it will produce an output comparable to a sacred-grade… or perhaps even a celestial-grade weapon.”

I turned my gaze away from the Black Crow Matriarch, who was puzzled as if she didn’t understand my words, and stared at the photo printed on the document.

A long, blackish, rusty piece of iron, like the roots of a tree.

It seems that the restoration has been roughly completed since it was excavated, but to see the proper appearance of this weapon, it should not be restored in this way.

“If you participate in this tournament, it will be quite interesting.”

The Black Crow Matriarch smiled strangely.

I tilted my head at her words.

“In what way?”

“The list of participants hasn’t been released yet, but the new martial artists and knights who have expressed their intention to participate are quite impressive. It seems that even those who have been hiding and not showing their faces will be coming out.”

“New martial artists…”

At those words, I suddenly felt a strange sense of rivalry.

I have accumulated power that ordinary people cannot have.

I have accumulated countless experiences that I could never have at my age, and I have overcome trials that have only been passed down through inheritance.

It’s not for me to say, but I think the realm and power that I have achieved now are considerable.

That’s why I was curious to see how much my accumulated power would work.

The Black Crow Matriarch opened her mouth slightly as if she had read my expression.

“You have a look of anticipation.”

I smiled awkwardly at the Black Crow Matriarch’s words.

“I didn’t really think so… but I think it will be more fun than I thought. This tournament.”

Numerous competitors from all over the world who will live in the same generation as me.

A tournament where many warriors I admired in my past life gather.

When I first heard about it from Jang Han, I was indifferent, but unexpectedly, I feel a sense of rivalry.

After finishing some minor tasks and consultations, I got up from my seat.

“I had a good time today. Then I’ll be on my way.”

“…Are you leaving already?”

The Black Crow Matriarch said with a disappointed expression.

“Yes, I have a few things to take care of.”

I looked at the Black Crow Matriarch who came out to see me off.

“Then I’ll be going. Anastasia, Matriarch.”

“Yes, well… what?”

The Black Crow Matriarch widened her eyes and stammered.

Anastasia (Анастасия). A name meaning resurrection in ancient Greek.

It was a fitting name for her who overcame her constitution and lived as a human.

I know that her maternal side is Asian, but it seems that her name followed her paternal side.

That’s right.

“I’m more embarrassed because you’re so embarrassed.”

“I, I was a little surprised that you suddenly called me by my name.”

Sigh, ha-.

The Black Crow Matriarch, or rather Anastasia, who took a deep breath with the breathing technique I had taught her, blushed and hesitated.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have many opportunities to be called by my name. It’s awkward. Ahem.”

Seeing her embarrassed, she looked her age.

That being said, is it that awkward to be called by name?

“Then shall I call you Matriarch again?”

“No. Please call me by my name.”

Anastasia said firmly.

“You don’t have to attach Matriarch either. We’re friends now, aren’t we? It feels distant.”

“Then Anastasia, call me by my name comfortably too. You said we’re going to be friends now, right?”

Anastasia mumbled and nodded slightly with a smile.

“Yes, I understand. Lee Cheol.”

I nodded with a smile.

“Then I’ll see you again next time.”

With that, I turned around after saying goodbye to Anastasia and Natalia.

The time has come to prepare for the World Martial Arts Tournament.

* * *

The preliminary round of the World Martial Arts Tournament was held in October.

After coming out of the island, I took a short break.

Of course, I didn’t just rest.

I went to Jeju Island to meet Elder Seop and Ryeo, and I prepared for various things with Jeong Jin-soo.

And for the remaining few weeks, I prepared for the tournament by training at the training center of Anga (安家) [Peaceful Home] that Jeong Jin-soo had prepared.

-Bbyak!

And there was a being watching me while I was training.

“Hoo… to think you’d hide in Brekia’s corpse and come all the way here. You’re really persistent.”

It was the spirit beast bird that had been monsterized that I last met on Tsushima Island.

I knew that this guy had escaped the island while I was organizing the corpses after getting off the ship.

The moment I saw him lying on Brekia’s skull bone and sleeping soundly, I was going to send him back to Tsushima Island right away.

But he screamed almost like a cry and clung to my shoulder and wouldn’t let go.

‘There’s no point in going to that contaminated land. Besides, now that he’s lost his status as a spirit beast, he won’t have a big impact on Tsushima Island.’

So at first, I went to Hallasan to release him to a suitable sacred mountain or spiritual ground.

Hallasan was one of the nation’s sacred mountains full of spiritual energy, and I thought that the mystics would be able to take care of him, so I thought that this bbyak bbyak bird would be able to live there.

But for some reason, instead of falling off, he kept following me around.

-Bbyak bbyak! Bbyak!

“What? You’re hungry?”

-Bbyak!

He starts pecking at my walker again with his beak.

As expected, this guy definitely understands what I’m saying.

“Here you go.”

I threw a piece of raw meat with blood on it.

Swoosh! Tak!

I don’t know where he gets such jumping power from that small body, but he soared into the sky and accurately bit the meat in his mouth.

-Chomp chomp! Bbyak!

The meat was covered with powder that had the effect of purification that I had additionally received from Mirenae Village.

He really worked hard to move his beak and devoured the pork.

-Bbyak! Bbyak bbyak!

It was a piece of meat the size of his body, but he quickly ate it all up and bbyak bbyak again asking for more, so I threw him another piece of beef and slowly got up from my seat.

I was going to continue training as always.

But.

Ting-

The alarm went off on the phone that I had placed on the wooden floor next to the training center.

-Young master. This is Jeong Jin-soo.

It was a text from Jeong Jin-soo.

A document arrived as an attachment file along with a short message.

-The list of participants for the tournament has been released. I have checked the names of the participants to watch out for. But among them…

I immediately opened and read the document.

And the moment I confirmed a certain name, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

* * *

A girl curled up the corners of her lips and walked out through the main gate of Soongmoo Lee Ga [Soongmoo Lee Clan – a prestigious martial arts family].

Her silky hair was tied back tightly, and her light brown eyes were sparkling as if showing a strong will.

The girl put her arm on the white sword at her waist and muttered quietly.

“Just you wait. Lee Cheol.”

The eighth of Soongmoo Lee Ga, Lee Seo-hyun.

She started the Warrior’s Path.