Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 247

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 247

Butler Choi’s handwriting was soft and elegant.

If I didn’t know it was a will, I would have thought it was a heartfelt letter from a family living abroad.

[I am writing this in preparation for the possibility that I may pass away before I have the chance to meet you, Young Master.]

They say that the eyes and handwriting are windows to the soul.

If that’s true, Butler Choi’s heart must have been kind and gentle.

[I, Choi Yu-un, have received excessive grace from Lady Yoo-jung, and have lived as her friend, family, colleague, and subordinate.

However, I have committed the disloyalty of failing to protect Lady Yoo-jung.

This is a grave sin for which there is no place to seek forgiveness, but I have at least tried to faithfully carry out her last instructions.

Now that I don’t have much time left, I hope that you, Young Master, will continue the work of this incompetent man.]

And below that, Butler Choi’s will and the story that my mother had instructed him continued.

First, to inherit the ownership of the Soongjeong Choi family’s main house.

The land beyond the barrier spread out by the lake seemed to be the foundation where the Soongjeong Choi family had taken root for generations.

The buildings I saw were rebuilt after the annihilation, but the power inherent in the land seemed to be the same.

As written in the will, the land was inheritable.

Butler Choi asked me to manage and maintain it.

Second, to absorb the power of the Soongjeong Choi family within Butler Choi’s body.

Fortunately, I was able to meet him before he passed away, and I was able to accomplish this.

Finally, to inherit the Choi family’s sorcery.

I was taken aback by this.

Sorcery can become either witchcraft or magic depending on how it is used, but because the methods of use are so different, it was standard for one person to master only one.

Unless one had a miraculous talent and ability like my eldest brother, it was virtually impossible to master two at the same time.

However, after reading the rest of the content, my worries disappeared.

[There is a sorcery that is only allowed to those who have inherited the bloodline of the Soongjeong Choi family. The power of that sorcery uses power other than mana, so you don’t have to worry. It will be quite a useful power for you, Young Master.]

The content about the sorcery was kept in the underground library attached to the Soongjeong Choi family’s main residence.

I didn’t bring it with me just in case, but I was planning to learn it according to the will.

These were all requests that Butler Choi had received from my mother.

And at the end of the will, another content was written.

[Lastly, this was not Lady’s order, but the Lord’s order.

The Lord instructed me to deliver certain ‘two items’ when you, Young Master, reached the level of Sword Heart [a high level of swordsmanship].

Since I am unable to deliver them to you directly, please retrieve those items from the Lord’s vault.

The first of those items is none other than…….]

A secret manual personally written by my father.

A martial arts book left by Lee Tae-shin, the strongest man of his time.

I came here to find it.

* * *

To sneak into a space only allowed to the head of the family.

To be honest, I was a little nervous.

It was because I was acting according to Butler Choi’s will, but I couldn’t say it out loud.

Butler Choi’s death, his identity, or even the Soongjeong Choi family that was inherited to me… there were too many things that couldn’t be revealed.

‘Either way, I have to go in.’

A space that was, in a sense, the heart of the Soongmoo Lee family.

I couldn’t guess what kind of defense facilities or sorcery would be in place.

I first scanned the surroundings with my senses, and then penetrated inside with my magic eyes and the Water Scale of Strong Energy [a technique to enhance perception].

…But contrary to my worries, I was able to enter too easily.

‘There’s nothing here?’

There wasn’t even a common alarm or defense magic.

I thought that some measures might have been taken after Butler Choi’s disappearance, but it was a foolish thought.

Click! Creak!

I was able to enter the head of the family’s office too easily.

A quiet space with plenty of sunlight.

‘It’s my first time coming into this space when Father isn’t here.’

The scene of my father not being in this space felt strangely unfamiliar.

Looking at it this way, it was just an ordinary office decorated with some luxury items.

It was because of the existence of Lee Tae-shin that this place had felt special all along.

‘Behind the bookshelf, if you press this at the bottom, the vault is… here it is.’

Compared to the fact that there had been no special security devices so far, this large vault had several devices, including sorcery.

I unlocked it according to the unlocking method written in the will.

Click!

The vault door soon opened.

As soon as I opened the vault, a hardcover book bound in luxurious brown leather came into view.

‘Is this it?’

I swallowed hard and opened the book.

I was curious to know what kind of secret manual my father had written.

What martial artist wouldn’t open it in front of them?

Gulp.

I carefully opened the thick cover and checked the contents inside.

Sword Heart Art (心劍訣) [Shim-Geom-Gyeol, a martial arts technique focused on the heart of the sword].

It was like my father, I suppose.

It was a simple and clear name.

‘What kind of content does it deal with?’

The moment I read the first page, my eyes widened.

Before I knew it, I had read that page and turned to the next chapter.

I read the secret manual as if I was being sucked into it.

The perception of the passage of time began to fade.

What was written in the Sword Heart Art was my father’s own summary of the Sword Heart.

I couldn’t help but feel shocked by that alone.

‘Is it possible to convey the realm of Sword Heart in writing?’

Sword Heart is an ambiguous and abstract realm.

Even the martial artists of the time define the realm of Sword Heart in different ways.

But my father is defining it, writing it down, and interpreting it.

[There are three conditions for activating Sword Heart.

First, one must master the principles of all power, including mana. One must obtain unobstructedness in all forces (萬力) [Man-ryeok, mastery over all forces].

Second, one must establish a firm image of the ideal form that one aspires to as a martial artist.

Third, one must materialize it through mana, which is the raw material for all of that.

At this time…….]

Usually, secret manuals are often filled with very abstract sentences.

Because a martial artist’s enlightenment is not easy to put into words clearly, it is deliberately described abstractly in order to convey that ‘feeling.’

The fragrance of plum blossoms extends beyond ten thousand miles.

Take a stance as if shooting the sun with a bow.

Swing the sword like a tiger hiding in the bushes and hunting its prey.

Even these were contents that had been 풀어서 [pul-eo-seo, 풀어 interpreted/explained].

The original texts of the secret manuals without annotations and interpretations were even more terrible.

Therefore, high-ranking martial artists usually have no choice but to be excellent in 오성 [o-seong, five virtues/talents], including language skills and comprehension skills.

But my father’s secret manual had no abstract content at all.

The secret manual was written on the foundation of logic and reason, as if looking at a thesis.

There was only one reason why my father could do this.

‘Father…… has already perfectly understood Sword Heart.’

He had 깨달았 [kkae-dal-at, attained enlightenment] perfectly to the point where he didn’t have to use abstract words, so he could 정리 [jeong-ri, organize/summarize] it in words.

‘As expected, Father has entered a realm different from other first-class martial artists.’

Transcendental grade.

The name of the grade that my father had been given before he died in the past.

A grade given along with the achievement of subjugating a first-class monster, which had never happened in history.

I had been guessing, but as expected, my father had entered that realm.

‘Then what on earth is above Sword Heart?’

I saw Jormungandr directly.

Sword Heart alone was not enough to cut it.

What on earth is the realm that my father reached, and how do I have to reach that place?

Squeeze!

I gripped the book tightly and felt the rising spirit of 승부욕 [seung-bu-yok, competitive spirit] in my chest.

Each sentence was a series of 깨달음 [kkae-dal-eum, enlightenments].

Things that I vaguely knew were being established and understood.

And the more I did, the stronger my desire for the next realm became.

‘I can get stronger.’

I grabbed the bookshelf with shining eyes.

And before I knew it, I reached out to turn the next page, but I suddenly came to my senses and looked out the window.

I had clearly entered when the sun was in the middle of the sky, but the sun was already setting.

I had been squatting and reading the book for at least half a day.

‘……This is bad.’

I came to my senses and closed the book.

It would be a disaster if I got caught reading here without 정신을 놓고 [jeong-sin-eul noh-go, losing my mind/focus] since I had sneaked in.

I needed to get out first.

‘Sneaking around really doesn’t suit my personality.’

I spread out the Water Scale of Strong Energy and left the mansion while hiding my presence.

Open the office door, pass through the hallway, and to the main gate.

Since no one would easily approach this side anyway, I wasn’t too worried.

However, the moment I opened the door and tried to exit through the main gate, I realized that someone was standing in front of the main gate.

‘Eldest brother?’

My eldest brother was standing with his back to the main gate, looking down at the scenery of the Soongmoo Lee family with unfocused eyes.

‘Why did my eldest brother come here?’

Besides, the atmosphere was a little different than usual.

He felt like he had lost his soul somewhere… his eyes were also blurry.

I couldn’t move rashly and hid behind a tree in the front garden near the door, suppressing my presence.

‘Didn’t he notice? More than that, what on earth is he doing?’

Should I go out and just say hello, or should I hide like this and go out when he leaves?

It was a moment when I was hesitating for a very short time.

“Come out from there.”

I heard my eldest brother’s words.

While I was hesitating for a very short time about what to do, my eldest brother turned his body and looked exactly in my direction.

The blurry eyes from before disappeared, and the clear eyes that were like my eldest brother’s usual eyes remained.

“……I got caught.”

I walked out while releasing 강기공 [gang-gi-gong, a technique to release strong energy].

My eldest brother’s eyes widened when he saw me.

“Why are you coming out from there?”

“Didn’t you notice?”

“I didn’t know it was you. I only felt a faint presence.”

My eldest brother laughed 허허 [heo-heo, a hearty laugh] and approached me.

“You’ve grown up well. I can only recognize your presence.”

“I should have grown up so well that you couldn’t even recognize my presence.”

“Unless it’s at Father’s level, there’s no one I can’t recognize.”

It sounded like he was boasting, but for my eldest brother, it was close to confidence.

I opened the main gate with a sullen expression and walked out.

“So why are you coming out from there?”

“There’s a bit of a situation…… No, more than that, what’s going on, eldest brother?”

“Don’t change the subject. You rascal.”

My eldest brother 피식 [pi-sik, a smirk] laughed and replied.

“I came out for a walk during lunch time. I guess I just walked wherever my feet took me and ended up here. I guess I’m getting old now, I like looking at the scenery.”

My eldest brother also looked down at the scenery with a strange expression while talking.

It was 석연치 [seok-yeon-chi, dubious/unclear], but…… I’m the problem right now.

I decided to just go out confidently.

“Please just let this one slide.”

“Huh! This rascal?”

“Aren’t I your cute youngest brother? Please let it go just this once.”

“You’re very confident? But no way. Because you’re my cute youngest brother, I have to correct you as your older brother.”

“……Ugh.”

It seemed like it would be difficult to just gloss over it.

No matter how well I speak, my eldest brother will end up seeing through everything.

‘If it’s my eldest brother…….’

I thought I could tell him a little bit.

And this book that my father left me, Sword Heart Art.

Maybe I’ll need my eldest brother’s help to study this book.

* * *

My eldest brother wanted to go to the office with me, but I headed to the training hall instead.

“Okay, let’s hear what you have to say.”

I 차단 [cha-dan, isolated/blocked off] the surroundings with 오러막 [o-reo-mak, aura barrier] and started telling my eldest brother the story.

I couldn’t tell him everything.

I only told him about Butler Choi’s death, receiving the will, that the death shouldn’t be revealed for some reason, and that I had to enter my father’s office according to Butler Choi’s will.

Of course, my eldest brother was suspicious as soon as he heard it.

“Is it true? Butler Choi, who went missing, has passed away?”

“Yes, I was with him at his 임종 [im-jong, deathbed].”

My eldest brother had been with Butler Choi for perhaps longer than I had.

My eldest brother revealed an unhideable sadness in his eyes.

“I can’t believe it. Can I see the will?”

“He didn’t want it to be revealed.”

“What on earth is that 모종 [mo-jong, certain/particular] reason?”

“……It’s related to Butler Choi’s past. I don’t think I can reveal it.”

My eldest brother sighed deeply.

“I can tell from your eyes that it’s true. What on earth happened to Butler Choi…….”

Butler Choi was a person who was respected by everyone.

I felt 울컥 [ul-keok, a lump in my throat] at my eldest brother’s reaction.

“Anyway, I really can’t tell you more than this. Please understand.”

My eldest brother was 고민 [go-min, contemplating] for a while, but soon nodded his head.

“Okay. But if you’re going to sneak in like that, be careful. It won’t look good at all.”

“……To be honest, I wouldn’t have been caught if it wasn’t for you, eldest brother.”

“Huh! Are you blaming me for that?”

I smiled faintly and looked at my eldest brother.

“So, now that I’ve come out so shamelessly, can I ask you for one more favor?”

“What is it?”

“Soon, when things related to the aerial fortress start, won’t the family’s power be 投入 [tu-ip, invested/involved]?”

“That’s right.”

Related to the aerial fortress, an untimely information war was continuing all over the world.

Various organizations are continuing a war without 총성 [chong-seong, gunfire] under the surface.

Besides, even though it hasn’t been officially revealed yet, the story about my martial power has been 새어 나가 [sae-eo na-ga, leaked out], and other forces are 견제 [gyeon-je, checking/restraining] the Soongmoo Lee family.

“So far, no forces are 섣불리 [seot-bul-ri, rashly/hastily] moving first, but eventually this balance will be 깨질 [kkae-jil, broken].”

“So what are you trying to say? Tell me quickly.”

“Before that happens, please make some time for me. When that time comes, you, the acting head of the family, will be busy.”

“Time?”

“Yes.”

I recalled my father’s secret manual that I had put inside Eunhan’s 저고리 [jeo-go-ri, traditional Korean jacket] and smiled meaningfully.

My eldest brother is the closest person to perfection among the martial artists I know.

What kind of interpretation of the Sword Heart Art will such an eldest brother accept?

If I have my eldest brother, I will be able to absorb the interpretation and 깨달음 [kkae-dal-eum, enlightenment] of this in a short amount of time.