Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 19

Weapon-Devouring Bastard – Episode 19

“Big brother, how about we make a deal?”

At my words, my eldest brother, who was about to leave, stopped in his tracks.

“A deal? What kind of deal are you talking about?”

“I’ll pass on my credit for this incident to you, brother.”

My eldest brother’s eyes widened.

“You can say that you predicted the Beast Tamer’s infiltration and instructed me in advance. I’ll testify accordingly.”

“……”

He could easily guess why I was saying that and what the consequences would be.

As the youngest said, the political attack by some unknown entity would coincidentally enhance his own reputation.

‘The acting head of the family foresaw and prepared for something that even the family’s intelligence department couldn’t detect.’

On our side, we could obtain the Beast Tamer card [a valuable asset or piece of information related to the Beast Tamer] and information, thereby establishing a foundation for a counterattack.

‘But the youngest’s recognition will diminish.’

His achievements, which even the conservative elders of the family would have to acknowledge, would be significantly tarnished.

“Then you’ll gain nothing. It would be better for you to just tell the truth. I appreciate you thinking of me, but there’s no need to go that far.”

“Do you think I’m doing this purely out of affection for you, brother?”

My smile brought a look of bewilderment to my eldest brother’s face.

“Big brother, this achievement is too much for me, who hasn’t even started cadet life yet. Moreover, I am a bastard.”

“Yes, so you must know that the spotlight should be entirely on you, right?”

“Instead, the scrutiny and wariness towards me will intensify.”

Lee Myung-jung’s eyes widened.

‘Could it be that this guy wants me to be a shield for him?’

As he said, this incident was beyond impressive for an 11-year-old bastard; it was even threatening.

Those who had tried to keep him in check would focus their attention on his younger brother, and even those who were unhappy with the bastard would change their perspective.

But if his name was involved, the family’s attention would shift away from the youngest. All attacks and checks would be directed at him.

“I don’t have my own power yet, and I lack the strength to protect what’s mine. The honor I gain from this incident is like a candle in the wind. It will be even more pathetic when it’s extinguished.”

Even if it’s revealed that I had my eldest brother’s assistance, it wouldn’t be so bad for me.

It’s better to seize immediate practical benefits than to deal with troublesome fame.

‘I still need to hide myself appropriately.’

I haven’t even done much, and already there have been incidents like the Beast Tamer and Mimaong [likely a reference to a specific event or person].

This is just one achievement; I’m confident I can accumulate countless more in the future when I have more power and have grown stronger.

Lee Myung-jung burst into laughter.

“Haha! Indeed, a deal is about giving each other what is needed. What do you want?”

“Grant me access to the Janggyeonggak [the family’s archive of martial arts scriptures and secret manuals].”

If the family’s Bigo [likely a storage or armory] was where numerous pieces of equipment were stored, the Janggyeonggak was where countless high-level martial scriptures and secret manuals were kept.

My eldest brother hesitated for a moment before answering.

“It’s difficult to grant you permanent access when you’re not even a Jeongmusa [a formal member of the family or organization] yet. At most, I can give you two days as compensation for this incident.”

“Make it three days.”

“……You impudent fellow. Haha. Fine.”

I extended my hand to my eldest brother.

Lee Myung-jung chuckled and grasped my hand.

Just as the youngest was about to release his grip, Lee Myung-jung squeezed his hand tightly instead.

“Thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me. This was just a deal, after all.”

“Even without me, you would have had a plan to overcome the aftermath of this incident, right?”

“That’s……”

“I’ll repay the debt.”

My eldest brother patted me on the shoulder.

At that moment, a vibration came from my eldest brother’s chest.

“It’s a call from the Blue Sword Squad. I must go. And I’ll keep my mouth shut about this.”

My eldest brother was about to leave when he seemed to remember something and tossed something over.

A jet-black sword without any ornamentation.

It was Mujin [the name of the sword].

With that, my eldest brother turned away nonchalantly.

“……He’s quite the formidable brother.”

I was momentarily taken aback and chuckled, bowing my head in the direction my eldest brother had walked.

* * *

The Blue Sword Squad and my eldest brother thoroughly searched Jeokcheong Island before returning to the main family by private plane.

As expected, a disposable teleportation device was found in the bushes on the outskirts of Jeokcheong Island. So, two squads of the Blue Sword Squad were stationed on the outskirts of the island in preparation for any unforeseen events.

“……So? Which Trial Pavilion are you going to challenge?”

Hwa asked, scrutinizing me.

Even Hwa, who had a fairly neat impression, looked grimy, probably because he had been living on the island for a month.

“Which one are you going to challenge?”

“I asked first!”

“If you want to know, you have to tell me first.”

“……You’re so cheap. Where else would I challenge? It’s obvious.”

Hwa scoffed.

Trial Pavilions existed throughout Jeokcheong Island.

The Trial Pavilions on the outskirts were mostly of low difficulty, but the Trial Pavilions in the center boasted high difficulty.

Among them, the most infamous Trial Pavilion was none other than the ‘Pavilion of Obsession’.

“The Pavilion of Obsession? Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“The Trial Pavilions don’t test physical strength anyway. It doesn’t matter.”

Most Trial Pavilions don’t assess combat power.

Rather, the opposite.

They were places that tested the challenger’s mind and will through illusions created with formations and spells.

As such, apart from the Trial Pavilions on the outskirts, the difficulty wasn’t particularly divided.

It was just that the nature of the illusions presented by each Trial Pavilion differed. The Pavilion of Obsession was known to be particularly vicious.

“So, which one are you going to challenge?”

“The Pavilion of Struggle.”

“Huh? Was there such a thing? Is it one of the Trial Pavilions on the outskirts?”

“It is on the outskirts.”

Hwa’s expression contorted like never before.

“……Are you serious?”

At my nonchalant words, Hwa bit his lip in shock.

He felt like his insides were boiling.

It was true that the ability would be unlocked in the same way no matter which Trial Pavilion one entered and passed.

Even so, to think that I would quickly finish it in a Trial Pavilion of low difficulty.

‘……I didn’t know he was this kind of guy.’

In his heart, he thought of me as a competitor, no, to be honest, he thought I was even more outstanding than him.

He acknowledged my efforts and even harbored a slight admiration for the youngest’s resistance against the contempt of being a bastard.

He even wanted to compete fairly, even if it meant going against his mother’s wishes.

But to think he was this kind of guy.

“I’m disappointed. I think I misjudged you. There’s no need to talk anymore.”

Hwa stood up abruptly and strode away.

‘What is he talking about?’

I could guess why he was reacting that way, but I didn’t feel like explaining.

‘Well, let him think what he wants.’

I turned my steps in the opposite direction from where Hwa had walked.

* * *

In fact, when challenging a Trial Pavilion, there’s no need for any particular preparation.

At most, perhaps meditation to clear the mind.

I washed myself clean in the lake on the island, ate all the food I had saved up, and then caught up on the sleep I had been putting off.

When I woke up in the morning, the sky was still shimmering with the twilight of dawn.

‘Hoo, that’s it.’

After checking all the damaged mana circuits [pathways for internal energy flow] and external wounds on my body, I headed to the outskirts of the island.

‘I don’t remember exactly…… but I think it was around here.’

I circled the island along the forest.

The reason I, who had nothing in the past, was able to pass the Trial Pavilion and survive on the island was because I had been hiding.

I had to exert all my strength to catch a single level 8 monster, and while running away from a horde of goblins, I discovered a cave and hid inside for four weeks.

And later, when the Pavilion of Struggle was revealed, I was surprised to learn that it was the place where I had been hiding.

‘Found it.’

Soon, I was able to find the cave where I had been hiding back then.

I made a torch and slowly entered the cave. Soon, when I reached a dead end, I began to examine the walls.

Due to the darkness of the cave and the piles of accumulated dirt and sediment, it really looked like a wall.

‘But it’s not a wall.’

Swish!

Holding my sword, I swung it at the accumulated dirt and sediment on the wall.

I spread mana [internal energy] in all directions and swung my sword like crazy.

Clang!

And in an instant, I heard a sound like hitting metal rather than hitting a stone.

‘Found it.’

I shook off the remaining debris with mana and examined it closely.

It was so rusted that I couldn’t recognize its shape, and all sorts of things were piled up on it, but what was revealed in the dirt was a huge, artificially made door.

Saa-

I lightly cut my palm with my sword and clenched my fist tightly, causing a few drops of blood to pool in my palm.

I infused the blood with mana and sprinkled it towards the iron door.

Wooong!

The moment the blood touched it, very ancient characters began to emit light on the surface of the iron door.

Kugugugung!

Along with an unpleasant friction sound of an old mechanism moving beyond the wall, the huge iron door, which had only been regarded as a wall, was opened.

‘Well, is it starting now.’

The stagnant air escaped, and a sound like a human scream flowed out.

What unfolded inside the door was a huge cavity that seemed to be about 5 meters high.

‘This is the Pavilion of Struggle.’

I held out the torch and began to examine the cavity.

And in the very center of the cavity, I discovered a stone structure.

There was a stele, an altar, and an ancient sword with only the handle recognizable due to corrosion.

‘The Pavilion of the Struggle (鬪爭之關) [a place to test one’s inner strength and resolve].’

Before my regression, this place was discovered during the maintenance of Jeokcheong Island.

The researchers who investigated this place at that time said one thing.

The prototype of all Trial Pavilions.

The first Trial Pavilion created by the family’s founder.

I bowed twice and a half in front of the altar and clenched my fist tightly again, dropping a few drops of blood on the altar.

“The youngest of the Soongmoo Lee family is trying to challenge the founder’s trial. Please allow it.”

Wooong-

As soon as I finished speaking, I heard something like a cry.

The air fluctuated.

When I turned around, I saw clusters of light like fireflies slowly emanating from the ceiling, walls, and floor.

I was captivated by the flow of brilliant light spreading through the air.

And when the light subsided, someone appeared before my eyes.

It was…… me.

* * *

The test content of the Pavilion of Struggle is simple and clear.

To win in a battle against oneself.

It was a test befitting the Soongmoo Lee family, which constantly encourages the continuation of the struggle with oneself.

The number of challenges is unlimited.

You don’t die even if you lose.

But there is only one rule.

You cannot give up and leave until you win.

“Cough! Keuk?”

What happened?

I coughed and groped my neck.

‘My neck was clearly cut just now?’

I was the one who attacked first. But the revealed result was different. My illusion cut my neck faster.

‘Right, an illusion. It was an illusion.’

I couldn’t shake off the shock for a long time before I finally came to my senses.

It was a damn realistic illusion.

Each and every one of those cold sensations of being cut on the neck was vividly replayed in my mind.

‘It’s vicious. An ordinary person could go crazy at this level.’

It really felt like the first Trial Pavilion.

But I came prepared for this much.

And.

‘……Am I capable of doing that much?’

The illusion created by the test of the Pavilion of Struggle can only reproduce what I have.

The only difference is that the illusion utilizes 100 percent of my skills.

In other words, it meant that I was not utilizing 100 percent of my current power.

‘Even though I swung late, the fact that it quickly cut my neck means that I should have been able to do that strike originally.’

If I could do that, I should have been able to block it just now.

“……Good.”

I faced my illusion again.

“Let’s give it a try.”