Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 200

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 200

The person aiming magic at my aunt was someone I knew well.

Someone I knew quite well, in fact.

“Valerie?”

“Huh? What are you doing here?”

Valerie de Bell.

The owner of the Analysis Eye and a quasi-Tier 3 mage with the unique Three Questions and Answers magic.

The moment I saw Valerie, I understood why she was here.

‘The Eiffel Magic Tower accepted the Onmyoryo’s [Japanese occultism organization] request for cooperation.’

I looked at the figures standing side by side behind Valerie.

There were quite a few sorcerers from the Japanese Onmyoryo who didn’t look like mages.

It seemed the Magic Tower had chosen Valerie as the person to send to the Unexplored Zone.

“Wow! Nice to see you!”

“Yes, it’s been a while, Valerie. It’s been a while since I saw you briefly during the Martial Examination.”

“Right! It’s been a long time. I never thought we’d meet like this.”

“I could say the same. I heard the Eiffel Magic Tower was planning to come, but I didn’t know the person in charge was Valerie.”

“Yeah, that’s right. It’s been a pain.”

Valerie shook her head, puffing out cigarette smoke.

At that moment, my aunt, who was as nervous as a stray cat, cautiously approached and whispered.

“Hey, what’s ‘that’? Do you know her?”

“She’s someone I mentioned before. A mage from the Eiffel Magic Tower. She possesses the Analysis Eye, so she learned how to use the Mana Eye.”

“Ah! That crazy person?!”

Valerie frowned at my aunt’s words.

“What did you say? More importantly, crazy? You little punk, talking about my teacher like that!”

“Teacher? I’m Cheol’s teacher! Who are you!”

“You’re the one who should be asking that!”

I couldn’t tell if the slight dizziness I was feeling was due to the sensory impairment of the Unexplored Zone or because the two of them were yelling so loudly.

“Okay, whatever… Now that you know it’s me, can you put that sword down?”

Valerie said, looking at my Boundless Divinity, which was still pointed at her.

I shook my head at Valerie’s request.

“I can’t do that.”

“What? Why?”

“It’s true that Valerie is my benefactor, but Valerie is here now not as an individual, but as a representative of the Magic Tower and the Onmyoryo.”

Indeed.

The Japanese sorcerers and mages behind her, who didn’t know the relationship between Valerie and me, were wary of me.

No, it wasn’t just wariness.

I noticed the fingers of the sorcerer in the back wriggling.

The most typical preparation for sorcery, hand seals.

“See? Here, Valerie and I are enemies.”

I drew the Heaven-Shaking Divine Spear, a celestial-grade weapon, against them.

Fwoosh!

The moment Heaven-Shaker was revealed to the world, intense light burst out, scattering the sorcerers’ spiritual power.

Heaven-Shaker was valuable as a weapon, but it was also a top-tier sorcery tool and magic tool in its own right.

The sorcery of those sorcerers was scattered just by taking it out.

“W-What is this!”

“Ugh!”

Not only the sorcerers but even the mages were taken aback and took a step back.

“What is the meaning of this! Martial Warrior Lee Cheol! Do you truly intend to oppress us?”

A sorcerer shouted at me in awkward Korean, glaring at me.

I scoffed and said.

“You’re the ones who prepared to attack first.”

“Humph! Isn’t it natural to prepare when we don’t know if you’re friend or foe!”

“Well said. I’m just pointing my spear because I don’t know if you’re friend or foe either.”

Valerie was welcome, but I had no intention of letting go of a rival force that could interfere with the mission.

The sorcerers scoffed at my warning.

“No matter how strong a martial warrior you are, you’re just two people. And there are 20 of us. I think you need to understand the situation.”

At the provocation of the one who seemed to be the representative of the Onmyoryo, the sorcerers all assumed a defensive posture, raising their respective Dharma tools [ritual implements used in religious practices].

In an instant, the atmosphere became tense.

Cutting through the sharp air, Valerie opened her mouth.

“Stop. That’s enough.”

“Mage Bell. I understand that he is your acquaintance, but you are here now representing the Magic Tower and receiving a request. Choose wisely.”

The sorcerer spoke to Valerie in an overbearing tone.

At those words, Valerie clicked her tongue and said.

“You’re the one who needs to understand the situation. If he was serious, we’d all be dead right now. He’s being lenient because of me… Just stay still.”

“What! I can’t tolerate such an insult!”

“Ugh, seriously.”

Valerie scratched her head and frowned.

‘Those idiots. They’re asking us for a request because they don’t have enough power?’

Valerie understood the situation more clearly than anyone else and was sweating bullets.

That’s because Lee Cheol is more sentimental and takes care of his people, but he’s also thoroughly cold when he needs to be.

‘He called her Aunt, didn’t he?’

It was just a chance encounter during the move, and there was some magic released to threaten them, and there was a bit of shouting… but if they touched his family, Lee Cheol wouldn’t let it go, no matter how confident he was.

And as Lee Cheol said, this wasn’t a private matter, but a public one.

‘If Lee Cheol wanted to, we’d all be dead.’

The troops gathered here were by no means weak, but they were useless against Lee Cheol.

The Silver Armor, a defense that has an absolute advantage over magic and sorcery.

The Mana Eye that uncovers all phenomena, and probably countless weapons like that platinum spear that even he doesn’t know about.

Lee Cheol is the natural enemy of magic and sorcery.

Frankly speaking, even if she and the Magic Tower’s forces joined forces, she didn’t think they could win against Lee Cheol.

Valerie shook her head and said.

“Sorry, Lee Cheol. We don’t intend to be hostile, so please forgive us. We’re just here to investigate the anomalies in the Unexplored Zone. We have no other intentions. We’ll retreat as is, so let’s go our separate ways. How about it?”

“That won’t do.”

“……”

Valerie bit her lip.

And then, she took a long breath.

“Then let’s do this.”

Valerie turned to look at the sorcerers.

“Mages. Our Magic Tower will withdraw from this request.”

“What? What are you talking about!”

“Do you want to be enemies with Soongmoo [MC’s faction] any further than this? I don’t. No, before that, I don’t want to be enemies with that kid more than I want to be enemies with Soongmoo. Unlike you, I know how precious my life is.”

At Valerie’s words, the mages of the Magic Tower mixed in with the sorcerers also distanced themselves from the sorcerers.

“Mage Bell. You are representing the Magic Tower. If we formally protest…!”

The representative sorcerer shouted in a flustered voice, and Valerie frowned.

“Shut up. Even if it’s a request, does the Magic Tower look like it’s crazy enough to side with you here? We’ll side with that kid even if we have to pay several times the penalty.”

The sorcerers felt as if their souls were being squeezed by the magic that burst out of Valerie.

Valerie is also a sorcerer and a mage who has reached the realm of mastery.

Everyone shut their mouths at Valerie’s fierce gaze.

‘The situation has become interesting.’

I looked at my aunt and Valerie, trying to hold back the laughter that was about to come out.

‘It’s better this way.’

I organized my thoughts and spun Heaven-Shaker’s shaft, infusing it with magic.

Fwoosh!

Vast energy waves began to be released from Heaven-Shaker, which was infused with Aura.

“Gasp!”

The sorcerers became even more nervous at my actions.

“…As you can see, we have nothing to do with them anymore. So please let our Magic Tower forces pass.”

“In consideration of Valerie’s sincerity, I will do so. But I cannot let those who insulted the main family and me go.”

“I told you. We have nothing to do with them anymore.”

At my words and Valerie’s cold expression, the sorcerers began to back away.

“You’ve trapped us! Valerie de Bell!”

“I don’t know what misunderstanding you have, but you’re the ones who crossed the line.”

Valerie replied coldly, and I silently walked towards the sorcerers.

“Ha! You’re just a fledgling who’s just made a name for himself! Do you think the Onmyoryo of our Great Japanese Empire will be defeated by you alone, even without the mages!”

The sorcerer shouted urgently and began to unfold his sorcery.

I scoffed and swung my spear.

Soon, a black and white flash burst out.

* * *

It didn’t even take 10 minutes for the situation to be resolved.

Tap! Tap!

Valerie looked at the spot where Heaven-Shaker had been swung with a slightly stiff expression.

The ground had melted as if lava had flowed, and black smoke was rising.

‘He’s gotten stronger. Really.’

Valerie chuckled and turned her gaze to Lee Cheol.

“You’re such an idiot for not understanding the situation.”

“It’s unexpected that Valerie would move with those kinds of people.”

“…It was the Magic Tower’s order. And the representative of that Onmyoryo seems to be from a prestigious family. He was an idiot who came out for performance.”

“He seemed like it.”

They couldn’t even gauge the difference in level and were just showing off their background.

I don’t know how many times I’ve seen those kinds of people.

I retrieved Heaven-Shaker and said to Valerie.

“The Magic Tower should withdraw from this matter.”

“Yeah, I understand. Sorry. And thanks for being considerate.”

No matter how the situation turned out, if I had encountered a non-ally force in a place like this, I would have swung my sword without question.

Especially if they were competitors.

But Lee Cheol had considered their relationship.

So she just had to retreat quietly.

‘Those Onmyoryo still have the same stupidity as they did during the Great War.’

If they hadn’t been hostile, there might have been room for negotiation, but they had dug their own graves.

Valerie had quickly grasped the situation and was being careful with her words, but even in that situation, they dared to stand up to Lee Cheol.

“Then can we just withdraw as is?”

“I’d like to talk about that a little bit.”

At those words, Valerie bit her lip.

‘I knew he wouldn’t just let us go.’

Even though she had shown him how to defeat enemy forces in the 21st century, there was no way he would just let them go.

Valerie bit down hard on the water pipe with the cigarette in her mouth.

“Don’t be so nervous. I’m just making a suggestion.”

“A suggestion?”

Valerie’s eyes widened.

And at Lee Cheol’s suggestion that followed, Valerie burst out laughing and nodded quickly.

* * *

B-1 Zone Outskirts, Soongmoo Base Camp.

After meeting with Valerie, I joined my aunt and then encountered my fourth brother and three of his subordinates, and was able to arrive at the base camp as is.

‘They’ve set it up better than I thought.’

All sorts of talismans and magical boundary equipment were installed on the outer walls.

And inside the barrier, in a large open space, there were supplies and large tents that could be used as lodging, albeit crude.

A huge number of monster corpses were piled up and left unattended on the outer walls.

Well, after joining the troops, I encountered more than 20 monsters on the way here.

And each one had a danger level of 4 or higher.

If it were outside, they might have become the boss of a decent dungeon or gate, or the master of a dangerous area.

“Captain! You’ve arrived!”

“I’m glad you arrived safely!”

It seemed that my fifth brother and sixth sister, including the Cheollyeong Unit, had also arrived safely.

“The personnel? Has everyone arrived?”

“The Captain was the last one. For now, the joining itself is over.”

The total number of Soongmoo troops who landed in the Unexplored Zone was 25.

This was because I and my three brothers each had 5 martial warrior members with us, and my aunt had joined us.

“The joining itself? Are there any injured?”

“There are 5 people who have been identified with mental contamination, 2 seriously injured and 8 slightly injured due to battles with monsters.”

“The Cheollyeong Unit members?”

“There are no members other than 2 slightly injured. Vice-Commander Lee Young-sung suffered some internal injuries while protecting the members, but he will recover soon.”

“That’s a relief then.”

I had brought various talismans and equipment from the main family to solve the effects of sensory impairment or mana inhibition, but it seemed that I couldn’t completely block it.

No matter how low the danger level was, the Unexplored Zone was still the Unexplored Zone.

“For now, everyone should focus on recovering. I’ll go see the Spirit Sword Unit.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Sir. You’ve arrived, Young Master Lee Cheol.”

The leader of the 1st Unit, 3rd Squad of the Spirit Sword Unit bowed his head as soon as I arrived.

“Let’s hear the situation first.”

“Yes, then I will report on the current situation.”

There was nothing significantly different from the report I had heard just before departure.

“Even though it is a newly revealed Unexplored Zone, it is quieter than expected. There are quite a few monsters, but there are no monsters with high danger levels.”

As expected, the B-1 Zone is a bit different.

I narrowed my eyes and looked at the data collected by the Spirit Sword Unit.

“Is the discovered ruins in the center?”

I said, pointing to the map of the B-1 Zone, which had not yet been properly created.

“Yes, that’s right. But we didn’t investigate deeply because we didn’t know what threats there might be.”

“Good judgment.”

The Spirit Sword Unit is a group that specializes in information warfare rather than actual martial strength.

There would have been many obstacles to carrying out exploration missions in the Unexplored Zone.

“Additionally, here is information on external forces.”

There seemed to be no special movements from the Nine Dragons Guild yet.

The Russian intelligence agency seemed to have reached an agreement with the Black Crow Society not to send troops.

‘Anastasia must have used her power.’

I didn’t specifically ask, but it seemed she had been considerate.

“Lastly, there is the Onmyoryo. It seems that an investigation team has already been dispatched, but they suddenly withdrew. They are currently returning to the safe zone in the M-12 Zone, and the reason is being investigated.”

“There’s no need to investigate. I did it.”

“……Yes?”

The squad leader hesitated for a moment.

“I ran into them on the way here and took care of it. The Onmyoryo will withdraw from this matter.”

I lightly scanned the map and spoke to the Spirit Sword Unit member again.

“And a mercenary will be coming to the base camp, so please prepare. They will probably return around the time the Onmyoryo forces have completely left the Unexplored Zone.”

“A mercenary… you say?”

“A mage will be coming.”

The suggestion I made to Valerie.

That was none other than to have only Valerie participate in our exploration.

‘With Valerie’s Analysis Eye, there are many ways to use it. Besides, Valerie herself is a quasi-Tier 3 mage.’

As soon as Valerie heard my suggestion, she realized my intention in making such a suggestion, and nodded, secretly pleased.

Still, she asked me to allow her to guide the group outside the Unexplored Zone, so I told her to come to the base camp.

“Then the only thing we need to worry about is the Nine Dragons Guild.”

“Yes, now that there are fewer things to worry about, take a closer look.”

The squad leader looked at Lee Cheol with a renewed gaze.

‘The Black Crow Society is also Young Master’s force. The Russian intelligence agency also moved to stop the Black Crow Society, and now the Onmyoryo… I knew Young Master Lee Cheol was amazing, but I didn’t know it would be to this extent.’

In any way, Lee Cheol’s influence was acting on the giant forces.

The squad leader, who had been looking at Lee Cheol for a while, shook off his thoughts and replied.

“Yes, I will grasp the information without any gaps. And… there is something to show you.”

The squad leader took out a document and handed it to me.

I read the document and stopped my hand at one point.

“This is data sent from the research institute just now. We are reporting that the interpretation of the pattern similar to the family’s crest has been completed.”

The pattern stamped on the document.

There was writing under it.

-The existence of the Choi clan, which is mentioned together with Soongmoo in ancient historical records, has been confirmed.

-This pattern, similar to the one of the main family, is believed to be that of the Choi clan.

‘Was this the ruins of my mother’s family?’

My eyes widened.

It was that moment.

I felt an incredibly large number of presences rushing in from far away.

“Gather the troops right now.”

“Yes?”

“The monsters are coming.”

The next moment.