Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 242

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 242

‘It’s this again.’

Lee Myung-jung thought as he looked around.

A place where the completely black floor stretched out endlessly.

This was inside a dream.

Since he was aware it was a dream, should he call it a lucid dream?

It wasn’t like he was trying to have a lucid dream, but Lee Myung-jung had been having this desolate dream occasionally since he was young, often enough that he couldn’t forget about it.

‘I’ve been having it a bit too often lately.’

Lee Myung-jung slowly moved his feet.

The frequency of having this dream had recently increased, and these days, it felt like he was having it about once a week.

‘I’ll forget everything when I wake up from the dream, though.’

Lee Myung-jung thought as he continued walking.

Even the fact that he had this dream often was something he only remembered inside it.

Turbuk…….

Lee Myung-jung walked on aimlessly.

On the completely black floor, a blue sky without a single cloud stretched out.

-Child.

Ah, it’s that sound again.

Lee Myung-jung thought as he looked back.

There, something blurry, as if wrapped in heat haze, was walking towards him.

-You are my masterpiece.

The unidentified being slowly reached out its hand.

Lee Myung-jung unknowingly took a step back.

And…….

Whoosh!

“……Ah.”

Lee Myung-jung opened his eyes wide and looked around.

It was the familiar scenery of his bedroom.

A bedroom with a simple feel, without any particularly special decorations.

“Why did I wake up?”

Lee Myung-jung narrowed his eyes and surveyed his surroundings.

He couldn’t figure out why he had suddenly woken up.

A martial artist who had reached a certain level of magic power and could perfectly control their body could also freely control their sleep.

It was impossible for something like this to happen against his will.

‘Hmm.’

Lee Myung-jung immediately circulated magic power within his body.

A vast amount of magic power spread throughout his body from the two magic cores residing in his heart.

Lee Myung-jung’s unique ability, the power that allowed him to master both magic and martial arts simultaneously.

Two hearts.

It granted him overwhelming magic affinity and control, making the impossible a reality.

‘There’s nothing wrong.’

In fact, he could easily grasp his physical condition without using magic, but it was to prepare for any possible situation.

‘If so.’

Next, Lee Myung-jung spread out his senses.

The only presences felt around were a few members of the Blue Sword Unit and a few servants of the family.

No one had entered the room, and no signs of outsiders were felt.

He wondered if he had woken up due to the presence or killing intent of an assassin, but that wasn’t it either.

“Hmm…….”

Lee Myung-jung chuckled and shook his head.

‘……Am I getting old?’

He couldn’t help but think that.

Come to think of it, he was already in his mid-40s.

Waking up suddenly once or twice was to be expected.

Since he was already awake, Lee Myung-jung got out of bed.

He carefully got up so as not to wake his wife, who was sleeping next to him, and went outside.

“Did you cough?”

The current time was 3:30 AM.

Lee Myung-jung usually woke up early, but this was much earlier than usual.

“Just stay on duty. Don’t follow me. I think I’ll take a walk.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The Blue Sword Unit member nodded and straightened his posture again.

He was Lee Myung-jung’s escort, but was Lee Myung-jung the kind of man who needed an escort?

‘Come to think of it, they’ll be here tomorrow.’

The eighth, Lee Seo-hyun, and the youngest, Lee Chul.

Lee Myung-jung thought about his cute younger siblings as he walked the night road where even the dawn hadn’t arrived yet.

He met them at the Holy Kingdom yesterday, and they said they would depart this afternoon, so they should arrive before evening at the latest.

* * *

I looked at the main gate and outer walls of the main family residence and couldn’t help but let out a sigh of admiration.

“Oh…….”

Not only was the exterior newly built and sleek, but the defense systems prepared inside seemed to be greatly strengthened.

When I looked around with my Mystic Eyes [a technique to perceive magical energies] as a test, it seemed capable of easily blocking one or two strikes of Skyfall [a powerful martial arts technique].

‘I destroyed it, so it ended up like this, but they built it well.’

It wasn’t completed when I left for Cheonwisan, but no matter what, several years had passed, so it seemed to be finished.

“Hoo, haa. Sseup, hoo!”

……Meanwhile, next to me, as I looked around the outer walls, Lee Seo-hyun had been continuing to take deep breaths like that since earlier.

“What are you doing?”

“Hey! You’re done with the Martial Ascendancy [a trial to prove one’s martial prowess], but I’m about to be tested!”

“Ah, is that why?”

The proof of Martial Ascendancy.

It meant winning against all the martial artists gathered in the center and, in the end, conducting a sparring match with me, one of the elders.

After that, an evaluation of achievements would be waiting, just like I had done.

“You should be able to do it easily, so why are you so nervous, unlike you?”

“Sh, shut up. Being nervous is being nervous…… No, what? Easily?”

Lee Seo-hyun glanced at me and spoke, and I answered nonchalantly.

“It’s not for me to say, but I caused quite a stir, so there probably won’t be anyone among the elders who readily wants to spar with you for guidance.”

Because it was obvious they would lose.

Lee Seo-hyun, this guy seemed to have already reached the level of a quasi-2nd class.

Judging from the aura I faintly felt, he hadn’t even grasped the strand to open the door, but at least all other parts were complete.

Among the elders who were busy saving face, the only person who could spar with Lee Seo-hyun was…… maybe Uncle Lee Baek-chul, the head of the Training Division.

“Anyway, good luck. I’ll go in first.”

“Hey, hey! Where are you going!”

“Unlike you, I finished that proof a long time ago. Ah, don’t worry. If no one comes forward in the proof, I’ll be your opponent.”

“Wh, what?!”

I smiled and walked away.

Lee Seo-hyun wore a desperate expression, and I smiled as I moved my steps.

But a little later, I realized that my expectations had been wrong.

* * *

The central training hall.

This place, which was always open when there were big events in the Soongmoo Lee family, was where talents selected from each martial arts division gathered.

As soon as I returned to the family, I had to come here without going anywhere else.

I entered through the back door to avoid being conspicuous, but…….

“It’s the youngest young master.”

“It’s already been three years.”

“His aura has become even more formidable. The secluded training has paid off…….”

Strangely, the gazes were intensely focused on me.

I chuckled and headed to where the direct line members were sitting.

And there, I faced my siblings.

“You’ve come, youngest.”

“Hi, youngest~.”

Following the first brother and second sister, the twin brothers and the sixth.

Everyone except Lee Gun-sung, who was frequently away, and the seventh brother were there.

“It’s been a while, brothers and sisters.”

“Yes, come this way.”

The first brother lightly tapped the seat next to him.

I once again gave a light bow to the other siblings and headed to the seat next to the first brother.

“You decided to attend. You must be tired; no one would have said anything if you had rested.”

I shook my head at the first brother’s words.

“No. I am a member of the family, so I must attend the events I should attend.”

In fact, I could have refused if I wanted to, but I wanted to participate in a big event that the family was holding, whether I liked it or not.

The first brother nodded approvingly and quietly looked down at the stage.

There were many things he wanted to ask, but this wasn’t the place to do it.

“That’s right, you’ve finally fully reached it.”

Lee Myung-jung examined Lee Chul.

Not even a single point of energy was felt flowing out of his body.

The surrounding magic power was not affected or assimilated by Lee Chul.

If a person with low training saw him, they would see him as an ordinary person.

But that meant he was perfectly controlling all his energy.

Not only his own magic power but also external magic power.

There was only one state like that.

Heart Sword [a state of perfect control over one’s energy and intent].

The aura unique to those who had opened the door was finally beginning to be felt from Lee Chul.

‘But what on earth…… what did the youngest gain?’

What was felt from Lee Chul, who had pioneered his own domain, was just an elusive, unidentifiable something.

It was an impression like water, free-spirited and never still.

Lee Myung-jung could no longer see through everything about Lee Chul.

‘Amazing. I don’t think I’ll lose, but I don’t think I can win unconditionally like before.’

Lee Myung-jung suddenly felt a surge of competitiveness.

Competitiveness towards a brother who was almost twenty years younger.

It was such a foolish thing, but as a martial artist, he couldn’t help but want to confirm what Lee Chul had achieved.

Meanwhile.

‘He really reached the Heart Sword? Awesome. I want to chat with the youngest……. Ah, never mind. I’ll have a go later.’

‘Fully reached it, what does that mean?’

‘Could it be…… are they talking about the Heart Sword?’

‘Another transcendent has appeared in the main family!’

Starting with the second, the brothers and elders who were eavesdropping on Lee Myung-jung and Lee Chul’s conversation on the stage felt their own shocks and thought that.

Reaching the Heart Sword meant that Lee Chul was now standing shoulder to shoulder with world-class powerhouses.

I felt the prying eyes glancing at me, but I didn’t care and said to the first brother.

“Are you a little worried now?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’ve caught up to here.”

At those words, the first brother’s eyes widened.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what would happen if I fought the first brother yet.

But what was certain was that I had now reached the same step, or at least half a step below.

“Huhu, arrogant fellow. You’re still far off.”

The first brother lightly touched my shoulder.

After that, silence fell for a moment.

And the first brother slightly hardened his expression and said this.

“……You’ve worked hard.”

“…….”

It was definitely not about the secluded training or the achievement of the Heart Sword.

I smiled.

‘You knew.’

From Russia to the uninhabited island where the mirror was located, Northern Europe, and even chasing the puppeteer around Europe.

I moved in secret, but the first brother seemed to know my whereabouts.

He might not know the details, but he probably knew the general things.

“And I feel a little sorry. In a way, it was an incident that happened because of me.”

Thinking about it coldly, it was true.

Because of the incident where the first brother hit Lee Gun-sung, Lee Gun-sung targeted the Black Turtle Society and Jung Jin-soo.

“I’m rather disappointed that I was robbed of the opportunity to hit Lee Gun-sung by the eldest brother. I wanted to strike the first blow.”

“Huhu, then who told you to do secluded training.”

The first brother smiled.

I tilted my head as I looked at the first brother.

“But eldest brother. Is something wrong?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You look a little tired…….”

Squeak!

At that time, someone opened the main gate of the central training hall and entered.

It was Lee Seo-hyun, who was very nervous and a little cowered.

“The eighth has come. Ah, what did you say just now?”

“Hmm, it’s nothing.”

Thud!

Like that.

The martial artists of the Soongmoo Lee family began to block Lee Seo-hyun’s path as he walked step by step.

* * *

There weren’t many martial artists who stopped Lee Seo-hyun’s steps.

Even the heads of the newly reorganized Four Gods Unit couldn’t last more than three exchanges.

Lee Seo-hyun defeated all those martial artists and walked step by step.

“……I’ve learned a lot.”

Of course, the Ironclad Unit also participated in this proof, and the head, Lee Young-sung, stepped forward.

There was also the issue of situation and compatibility, but Lee Seo-hyun knocked down Lee Young-sung in just five exchanges and stood on the central stage.

I expected again that none of the elders would come out.

But.

“I am Lee Woon-ha, the head of the Censorate [a department overseeing conduct]. Although my martial power is weaker than yours, I would like to spar with you.”

“The head of the Judiciary…….”

“The head of the Education Center…….”

The elders responded to the sparring match for Lee Seo-hyun’s return to Martial Ascendancy without any hesitation.

I looked at them with a slightly dumbfounded expression.

Noticing that, the first brother asked.

“Why do you ask?”

“……I was avoiding it while saving face because I was a bastard, but it’s a bit much that they’re all coming out like this because the eighth came.”

When it was my turn, not a single one of them tried to come out.

“Hmm, you seem to be misunderstanding something.”

“Misunderstanding?”

“During your Martial Ascendancy, it’s true that the elders didn’t come forward because you were a bastard and too strong.”

Since they were a group that valued face so much, it was understandable.

“But it’s a little different now. They are not stepping forward caring about bastards or legitimate children.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s to test a child who has returned after a long life in a foreign land, like the elders of the family.”

What did that mean?

I frowned slightly, and the first brother gave a bright smile.

“Is it because you changed it that you can’t notice it? Look at their expressions. Do you really see the narrow-mindedness of dividing legitimate children and bastards?”

I quietly looked down at the elders who had started the guidance sparring with Lee Seo-hyun.

‘It really is different.’

That clear gaze, extremely fitting for the Soongmoo Lee family.

Moreover, it wasn’t just one elder coming out, but several were coming out in succession.

If they were going to save face, they wouldn’t have come out in such numbers.

Wasn’t it like a gauntlet match?

But they weren’t ashamed or caring about face.

Like elders, or like the adults of the family.

They were trying to give enlightenment and teachings to the direct line according to the given responsibility.

“You made them like that.”

Lee Myung-jung said.

“You cut off the rotten branches, so the healthy branches have grown. It’s something I couldn’t do.”

A gust of wind blew from the aftermath of the sparring.

A gust of wind swirling with accumulated dust swept up to my feet and swirled before flying away into the distance.

The wind continued to blow.

I looked at the training hall and smiled.

* * *

“Hey! Did you see!”

As soon as the sparring was over, Lee Seo-hyun jumped up and down, expressing his joy.

Anyway, with this, the eighth had officially returned to the family.

There would soon be an appointment as a quasi-elder and an evaluation of achievements, so Lee Seo-hyun left with the elders.

“You should go see it too, aren’t you going?”

“It’s okay. It’s a waste of time to go see that. No matter how many achievements he has, would he have more than me?”

Besides, I had already heard Lee Seo-hyun’s heroic tales so much that I was sick of it while coming on the private jet.

“Haha. Anyway, you’re usually not like this, but you change when you’re with the eighth. Besides, you bicker even though you’re on good terms.”

“We’re not on good terms.”

“Yeah, let’s just say that.”

“I said we’re not on good terms?”

“So, let’s just say that, okay?”

“…….”

Something doesn’t feel right.

Anyway, it’s all because of Lee Seo-hyun.

“Even though you say you’re not on good terms, you always take care of him. You. Huhu.”

“……I give an extra rice cake to a hateful guy. And he’s kind of cute. Like a younger brother.”

“Younger brother? Actually, you’re the younger brother?”

“……There’s only a few months difference. Eldest brother.”

“Haha! I know. Let’s just say that.”

“Why do you keep saying let’s just say that…….”

“Okay. Okay. Haha!”

The eldest brother laughed loudly and left.

I was finally able to return to the mansion where the nanny was waiting.

-Bbyak!

At that time, the Black Crow, which I had sent back to the family in advance before going to Northern Europe, landed on my shoulder, making its body smaller.

“It seems like nothing happened.”

I had attached it to the nanny just in case, but since it was fine, the nanny must be healthy too.

The mansion was visible in the distance.

And the person waiting in front of the gate too.

It was the nanny.

Her eyes were always slightly moist…… but they weren’t.

“Nanny. I’m here. But…… what’s wrong?”

The nanny’s face lit up as soon as she saw me, but she soon composed herself and hesitated, worrying about the inside of the gate.

“Young master. We have a guest inside.”

The nanny was whispering as if trying not to be heard around.

“Who are you saying has come?”

I looked inside.