Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 202

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 202

Not long after I finished off the Rank 4 monsters and rejoined the front lines, the battle entered a lull.

Everyone was exhausted, but they forced themselves to move, confirming kills on monsters playing dead or continuing the cleanup.

We had achieved a great victory against an enormous horde of monsters, but the forces of the Soongmoo Lee family were not unscathed.

Twelve seriously wounded, twenty-three with minor injuries, and three fatalities.

The dead included two from the Spirit Sword Unit and one from the Twin Dragons Brigade.

I looked at my twin brothers in the meeting room where the direct line [members of the main family] and the Spirit Sword Unit leader had gathered.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m fine.”

“Sigh. Fine, fine.”

The fourth and fifth brothers, who led the Twin Dragons Brigade, looked a bit somber.

“They died like warriors, so it’s alright.”

“Right. If we hold grand funerals for them, they’ll rest easy.”

The twin brothers, true to the blood of the Soongmoo Lee family, were somber but didn’t dwell on their emotions beyond that.

“Anyway… you were really amazing, maknae [youngest sibling].”

“Yeah, you were amazing. Amazing.”

“It went ‘kwagang!’ and then ‘kooong!'”

“Wasn’t it more like ‘sgeuk seogeuk’ instead of ‘kwagang kooong?’ Wasn’t it totally awesome?”

“Right, right.”

“It was truly epic.”

With the same faces and nearly identical voices, the two twins chattered on, making me feel a bit dizzy.

The two brothers widened their eyes and asked again.

“So what exactly was that? It seemed similar to the main family’s ultimate technique, Meteor?”

“Yeah. Or, it felt similar to our Synthesis Skill. But more than that, how much mana do you even have? Your control was seriously mind-blowing. How did you manage all that… wow, really.”

Both the fourth and fifth brothers couldn’t close their mouths and kept muttering.

Apparently, some new ‘technique’ I had displayed while fighting the Rank 4 monsters had left quite an impression.

“Heheng! That’s all thanks to the mana techniques I taught him! You little ones!”

“Wow! Really? Auntie! That’s amazing!”

” 인정인정 [I recognize it]! Auntie was really amazing!”

“Ehehe. I shall impart my teachings. You see….”

Auntie shrugged her shoulders beside me, continuing her boasting.

The twins, having witnessed Auntie’s combat prowess firsthand, focused on her story with sparkling eyes.

‘But I created this technique all by myself, so why is Auntie taking credit?’

In truth, I could safely say that I created that technique entirely on my own.

It wasn’t a variation or application of an existing technique, but the creation of an entirely new one.

If I had to name it, I’d call it the Lee Iron Style.

‘Well, whatever. Auntie deserves to show off a bit too.’

I glanced at Auntie’s expression, and her eyes were sparkling intensely.

I just chuckled and brushed it off.

* * *

Enough with the trivial chatter; we needed to discuss the mission in earnest.

I was the first to speak.

“Team Leader, how long has it been since we set up the base camp and stayed in the uncharted territory?”

“As of today, it has been six days.”

“During that time, have we ever confirmed monster movements on the scale of today’s?”

“…While it was unusual for Rank 4 monsters to move, it’s not as if this level of monster movement has never occurred before.”

“Just one more question. How did you measure and report the danger level of Area B-1 to the main family?”

“At least Special Class 3, with the central area’s danger level at Quasi-Class 2. As I mentioned before, we haven’t seen any monsters with a danger level of Class 3 or higher, but we made that judgment because exceptional situations like today could occur.”

Silence descended at those words.

Except for Auntie, who wore a bewildered expression, unable to understand the situation, all the other direct line members’ eyes gleamed.

‘So that’s how it was.’

The danger level of Area B-1 that we heard about in the Council of Elders wasn’t Quasi-Class 2 or Special Class 3.

We were told it was just a normal Class 3.

But the Spirit Sword Unit leader said he didn’t report it as Class 3.

The information was distorted somewhere along the way.

‘Someone’s influence must have been at play. Someone with enough position and power to interfere with the Spirit Sword Unit’s reporting system.’

From the selection of personnel to the detailed contents of the mission.

Everyone fell silent, lost in thought.

‘Could it be Third Brother?’

‘It’s possible… we rejected his proposal because we said we’d remain neutral.’

Lee Hyunjae and Lee Hyunchan whispered to each other, having that conversation.

And Lee Seol-ah, who was next to them, fidgeted with an almost tearful expression.

‘Is it Mother? Does she see me as useless now?’

Lee Seol-ah had such thoughts with a gloomy expression.

‘Lee Gun-sung, the Head Elder, Madam Baek—all three are possibilities. At least, we should consider the Head Elder and Madam Baek as certain. They were caught secretly meeting not long ago, after all.’

I was one thing, but the fourth and fifth twin brothers and the sixth, who had nothing to do with the Family Head competition, were thrown into the mission.

Before the mission started, the First Brother seemed unaware, and I had formed an alliance with the Second Sister, so the person who could carry out such a thing must be the culprit.

I had taken some measures outside to prepare for this mission, so we would know the results when we returned after completing the mission.

‘But what’s important right now isn’t figuring out the possibilities. What’s important is the mission we’re currently undertaking itself.’

I pondered, recalling the time when I faced the Rank 4 monsters.

At that time, I clearly felt the black energy stirring.

Moreover, the monsters reacted to my black energy.

‘This monster attack is related to the black energy.’

Instinctively, I had a premonition that there was a greater danger lurking near the ruins than what we had experienced today.

And that danger would be related to the black energy.

Perhaps this mission is more dangerous than we thought.

“What is it! What is it! Why am I the only one being left out!”

Auntie, unable to endure the silence, looked flustered and on the verge of tears, and only then did the direct line members, who had been silent, come to their senses and turn their gazes toward me.

“I’ll explain later. Anyway, as you all know, even if there’s something going on, the fact that we have to complete the mission remains unchanged.”

My brothers nodded at my words.

“That’s right.”

“We can’t just turn back like this.”

Four direct members of the Soongmoo Lee family had come to handle a mission, and we couldn’t give up just because the danger level was higher than expected.

“Fortunately, our mission this time isn’t monster subjugation but exploration to assert territorial rights. We just need to avoid combat as much as possible and move. After seeing today’s battle, I think it’s definitely possible. The Twin Dragons Brigade and Scarlet Flame Unit fought better than expected.”
The fourth and fifth, and even the sixth, agreed with Lee Cheol’s thoughts on the success or failure of the mission.

However, the reasons for their agreement were slightly different from Lee Cheol’s thoughts.

‘Since maknae is so strong, we’ll be fine somehow even if something goes wrong.’

‘Seriously. And Auntie was amazing too.’

‘…I don’t like it, but honestly, I have no choice but to acknowledge that guy Lee Cheol now.’

Those were the thoughts of the twins and Lee Seol-ah in turn.

Not only did he take care of 18 Rank 4 monsters, but he also slaughtered monsters until the very end of the battle with his outrageous power.

Clearly, First Brother Lee Myeong-jeong had described Lee Cheol as Class 3, but what Class 3 warrior could single-handedly handle 18 Rank 4 monsters?

Lee Cheol already possessed strength beyond the norm.

“But I’m a bit worried about the base camp. Originally, the Spirit Sword Unit’s role was to disrupt other forces and gather information, right? What are we going to do?”

The sixth, Lee Seol-ah, said in a clear voice.

The Spirit Sword Unit had suffered two fatalities and quite a few serious injuries.

Moreover, the base camp had been destroyed, so it was in a situation where it was no longer able to carry out its mission.

“It’s alright. After all, the Russian intelligence agency won’t come, and the Onmyoryo [Japanese occultists/exorcists] has withdrawn.”

“What?”

The fourth, fifth, and sixth were hearing this information for the first time.

The team leader calmly took over the conversation.

“Yes, that’s right. The only force we need to worry about now is the Nine Dragons Guild. We will thoroughly carry out our assigned duties.”

Everyone had surprised expressions but nodded helplessly.

They had no choice but to believe it since the Spirit Sword Unit leader had said so.

“But as Sixth Sister said, we can’t just ignore the base camp itself. Moreover, the exploration mission is also important.”

Everyone nodded at my words.

With the Nine Dragons Guild involved in this mission, the support of the Spirit Sword Unit from the rear was essential.

Besides.

“To assert territorial rights, we need to explore the central area too… but the central area has a higher danger level, right?”

“This is going to be really tough… what are we going to do? Maknae?”

I said the answer I had in mind.

“We’ll split up the team.”

Instantly, silence descended.

Even the Spirit Sword Unit leader, who had been silent, looked at me with disbelief.

The brothers reacted first.

“Did I hear wrong? Maknae?”

“What are you saying, Maknae!”

“……What.”

The twin brothers shouted in bewilderment, and the sixth also tried to shout but hesitated and closed her mouth.

No, we were already short on people due to the injuries, and now we were going to split up the team even further? What kind of talk was that?

“We’ll split the exploration team into three. Sixth Sister, please stay at the base camp and work with the Spirit Sword Unit.”

“What?”

Ignoring Sixth Sister’s question, I continued speaking to the twin brothers.

“Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother, please proceed with the exploration with the Twin Dragons Brigade, the Scarlet Flame Unit, and the Ironclad Brigade. The vice-captain will lead the Ironclad Brigade well even without me.”

“No, wait a minute! Wait a minute!”

“Exactly! How can we do that with just us! What are you going to do!”

Unsurprisingly, fierce opposition followed.

I immediately continued with my explanation.

“It will be possible if we exclude the central area from the exploration. If we avoid combat as much as possible, wouldn’t it be possible with just the two of you?”

“Exclude the central area…?”

“You, could it be?”

I nodded.

“Yes, only Auntie and I will go to the central area.”

Everyone was taken aback by my words.

Unexpectedly, it was the sixth who opposed.

“No. I know you’re strong, but acting alone is too much.”

“I said I’d be going with Auntie, though?”

“That’s the same thing. I’m against it.”

The twin brothers also nodded with stern expressions.

“That’s right. No way.”

“It’s definitely dangerous. It’s better to finish exploring the outskirts and then explore the central area together.”

I shook my head.

“That’s also dangerous. It’s better to have the team split up to prepare for the monsters concentrating on one side.”

Before the brothers could voice their opposition again, I immediately continued.

“And one external mercenary will be joining my team. That person will fill the power I lack, so you don’t have to worry too much.”

Once again, everyone’s eyes were filled with doubt at my words.

Valerie de Bell.

A Quasi-Class 3 mage will soon join our exploration team.

Me, Valerie, Auntie.

That’s enough with just these three.

Ah, actually, there’s one more addition here.

Not one person, but one being.

* * *

After the meeting, I called the team leader aside separately.

“You know why I called you, right?”

“Yes, it must be because the information was distorted.”

As expected of the Spirit Sword Unit leader.

He seemed to have already noticed.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t provide any specific information. The Spirit Sword Unit does not provide any information that could affect the family’s politics.”

I understood since they were a warrior unit that served only the Family Head.

I nodded.

“I understand. But that’s not the only reason I asked you to stay.”

“Then…?”

“I have a question about the number of monsters. The number of monsters we dealt with today was in the hundreds. Among them were medium and large monsters. Considering the area of Area B-1, that many monsters shouldn’t be able to inhabit it.”

There were too many monsters in today’s battle.

Moreover, most of the Rank 4 monsters were territorial or boss-level monsters.

Too many, by far.

“At this rate, it’s as if all the monsters in Area B-1 have gathered. But clearly, until I arrived at the base camp, this place was quite quiet.”

Moreover, even though the Spirit Sword Unit had been hunting monsters continuously while they were here, that many monsters still rushed in.

The team leader widened his eyes slightly at my words and nodded.

“I understand what you’re trying to say. Are you saying that there might be something that creates monsters or something that attracts monsters from other areas?”

“Yes. We need to find out about that. In my estimation, there’s something in the central ruins.”

The team leader wore a slightly puzzled expression.

“Even knowing that, you’re saying you’ll explore the central area with just three people? Even if a mage from the Magic Tower joins you….”

“It’s alright.”

Three people are enough.

No, rather, it would be troublesome to explore the ruins with anyone other than these three.

“So? What’s your answer?”

The team leader seemed to hesitate for a moment at my words, then nodded.

“I will use more of our members to bring back information about the central area before the exploration.”

“We’ll start the exploration as soon as the troops’ injuries recover, so please do so until then.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Leaving the Spirit Sword Unit leader behind, I walked out of the central tent.