Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 254

The power of a strong individual can certainly provide a tremendous strategic advantage. However, in modern warfare, the combined strength of many can overcome even the most powerful individual.

Especially since techniques to counter magic have been studied for a long time, there are quite a few methods to deal with it.

Curses, hexes, poisons, magic suppression arrays, superior equipment…….

The existence of a powerful individual is certainly important, but it is not absolutely everything in war.

And the Alexander Magic Tower of Germany was an organization that prided itself on countering such powerful individuals with its outstanding magical engineering technology.

“Reports are in! The Russian forces have been annihilated! The enemy is Lee Cheol of the Soongmoo Lee Family, and his direction is towards us.”

“They were just imitating our European technology anyway. It was the natural course of things.”

Martin, the Vice-Tower Master of the Alexander Magic Tower, scoffed at his disciple’s report.

No matter how strong Lee Cheol is, the area around them was already fortified with tremendous traps.

“They say he has magic eyes. He will be too frightened to even approach, seeing all the things installed here from afar!”

No one can break through this place.

Surely, that would be the case.

KWA-BOOM!

However, it didn’t take long for that certainty to be shattered.

Martin stared at the man walking through the firestorm, unable to believe the reality in his eyes.

“H-How is that possible…….”

Martin’s eyes twitched.

The man, no, Lee Cheol, was walking leisurely as if he was out for a stroll, smashing all the traps in his way.

BOOM! KWA-BOOM!

From long-range artillery to magic arrays for suppressing magic and even forbidden curses.

Before any of them could even activate, unidentified weapons created in the air were fired at speeds exceeding the speed of sound, destroying them.

BANG! KWA-GAGGAGANG!

Clearly, Lee Cheol is just a powerful individual.

He was just strong enough to overwhelm the things created by a large number of troops and firepower.

WHOOSH! BANG!

The weapons occupied the space as if performing an acrobatic flight.

Moreover, each of those weapons was exhibiting different powers.

Because of those weapons, the area around Lee Cheol was in chaos, as if a typhoon was raging.

However, the path Lee Cheol walked was a calm zone without a single breeze.

Nothing reached Lee Cheol.

‘It’s a potent poison that paralyzes the nerves upon contact, so why isn’t it working! Ah, no, why isn’t the magic suppression working either! What are those weapons anyway!’

Lee Cheol wasn’t just smashing the traps with physical force.

There were also many traps that were immune to aura and physical attacks.

However, Lee Cheol identified the state of the traps with his magic eyes and shattered them by firing weapons that perfectly countered them in terms of compatibility.

Even with that much power, he was considering efficiency.

How can a human possibly do that?

How can he control dozens or hundreds of weapons so delicately at once?

FLAP!

And before long, Lee Cheol fluttered the hem of his black overcoat and stepped into the center of the Alexander Magic Tower’s camp.

The weapons that had been firing in all directions, smashing all sorts of traps, stopped all at once, and then flew behind Lee Cheol and stood in attendance.

“Vice-Tower Master of the Alexander Magic Tower, Second-Class Mage Martin Winter. Is that correct?”

Lee Cheol asked in stiff German.

Martin couldn’t answer.

Instead, Martin tried to unleash his magic in a surprise attack.

‘No matter how strong he is, he won’t be able to avoid this at this distance!’

The moment Lee Cheol came right in front of him, Martin’s eyes flashed.

He poured all the power he had accumulated as a Second-Class Mage into his hand.

WHOOOOSH!

A very simple, but therefore powerful magic.

A magic bullet.

A golden revolver covered in all sorts of dazzling magic circles spat out gunpowder, and Martin’s magic injected into it was fired straight at Lee Cheol.

……Thwack!

However, the magic bullet did not reach Lee Cheol.

The magic bullet was split in half by Lee Cheol’s black longsword, which he swung indifferently, and fell to the ground with a powerless sound.

“D-Damn it…… Just what the hell are you…….”

It didn’t make sense.

Even if he managed to cut it down, though it was absurd, the fragments should have flown backward and exploded, so why did it fall to the ground so limply?

Where did the magic he had poured in with all his might…… go?

“Judging by the amount of magic power, you must be the Vice-Tower Master.”

“Y-You guys! What are you doing! Quickly, get this guy……!”

Martin screamed desperately and looked around.

But what he saw was just another shock.

“Ugh, ugh…….”

“H-How could they be so fast…….”

The mages belonging to the Magic Tower had already been subdued by those wearing black uniforms similar to Lee Cheol.

‘When did this happen?’

The Alexander Magic Tower, which had staked everything on this operation, had only selected the Tower’s elite mages and sent them here.

But they were all subdued by Lee Cheol’s subordinates, not even Lee Cheol himself.

“What should we do with this person? Should we kill him?”

At that moment, a tall, young woman approached with a light step and casually asked Lee Cheol.

Martin shuddered at the words, ‘Should we kill him?’

“Killing him would only cause troublesome diplomatic issues.”

“Oh…… You thought about that too?”

“If we kill him, there’s nothing left. We have to strip him clean.”

The Vice-Tower Master didn’t know Korean at all, so he couldn’t understand what the expression ‘strip him clean’ meant.

He only knew that his situation was not very good.

“Lee Youngsung. Seal this guy’s magic circuits and hand him over to the support team.”

“……If the Captain does everything, there’s nothing left for us to do.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t think this will be over so easily.”

I looked at Vice-Tower Master Martin, who was hanging his head.

That was the end of the German forces.

The time it took to deal with the two organizations wasn’t very long.

‘I’m sure those guys are celebrating their victories by now, right?’

I looked into the distance and thought.

“What are you going to do next?”

“Now, let’s move on to the next one. I can’t let my first brother overtake me.”

I sheathed Black Night and turned around.

* * *

Soongmoo Lee Family Main House, Command Center.

The new Elder Council Member, Lee Dongyoung, stared at the monitor with multiple screens displayed, with the same indifferent eyes as always.

The current location of the troops, changes in magic power, and operational status were being updated in real-time.

Since the operations were taking place inside uncharted territories, or at least in areas close to them, there was some delay, but the margin of error was within 5 minutes.

And less than 30 minutes after the start of the operation, news of victory came.

“We have received communication from Young Master Lee Cheol. The Russian special forces have been defeated. Three field-grade officers, twelve company-grade officers, and a total of 234 soldiers and non-commissioned officers, including subordinates, have been captured alive.”

No sooner had the report ended than an additional report was heard.

“Immediately after, they encountered the forces of the German Alexander Magic Tower nearby and captured all of them alive as well.”

“What about our side’s casualties?”

“None. They are currently handing over the prisoners to the follow-up unit.”

“Okay, I understand. Tell them that all subsequent actions will be left to the judgment of the field commander.”

“Yes!”

Lee Dongyoung nodded and briefly recalled his knowledge of the Russian military in his memory.

Russia, which had not fully recovered from the aftermath of the Great War, concentrated all its magic-using forces in the military.

Frankly speaking, it was quite a weak organization in terms of simple combat.

However, the Russian magic special forces, which used all sorts of modern war weapons, boasted tremendous power in multi-vs-multi combat situations.

Among them, Colonel Yuri, who led them, would be a well-known master of combat magic even in the Western magic world…….

‘He smashed them all. Not long after the operation started.’

What good is being a master of combat magic?

Lee Dongyoung remembered Lee Cheol’s appearance a few years ago, when he overwhelmed the entire Death Squad and some of the Elders single-handedly.

What use are firearms to someone who has already entered the realm of transcendence?

‘Of course, it’s a bit surprising that he even devastated the forces of the Alexander Magic Tower…….’

Everyone knows that they don’t care about methods, but he smashed them without caring.

Moreover, the fact that they were all captured alive without any casualties…… means they accepted surrender, but Lee Dongyoung wasn’t sure if that was possible.

‘He reminds me of that person.’

Lee Dongyoung tapped his desk and thought of a man.

The head of the family at the time, Lee Taeshin.

To dare to say, a man who is not ashamed to be called the strongest in the current era.

Lee Taeshin was the same as Lee Cheol.

Because of his overwhelming power that transcended common sense, when news of his appearance at the mission site was heard, the enemies were quick to surrender.

The existence of Lee Taeshin was closer to a strategic weapon or a huge deterrent than an individual.

‘It may be too absurd to think, but…… I have a feeling that Young Master Lee Cheol will become like that person in the near future.’

The world doesn’t know Lee Cheol’s power yet.

But after this incident, when Lee Cheol becomes known to the world…….

“Hmm.”

Lee Dongyoung shook his head and shook off his thoughts.

Shortly after, news of another victory followed.

“Communication has arrived from the Blood Wolf Squad 2 in the uncharted territory S-2 area. They have made contact with the Japanese Onmyoryo [Bureau of Onmyō] forces and have won the battle.”

Lee Dongyoung’s eyes widened slightly.

This side was a little more surprising than Lee Cheol’s side, where victory felt natural.

The Japanese Onmyoryo is the headquarters of sorcerers around the world.

With the support of the state, they use bizarre spells, making it difficult for warriors to deal with them.

But Blood Wolf Squad 2, not Blood Wolf Squad 1, suppressed such an organization?

“Blood Wolf Squad 2? Who is the commander there?”

“Currently, Associate 3rd Class Warrior Choi Inha, the squad leader, is in charge of Squad 2.”

Squad Leader Choi Inha.

A name he had heard of.

A young warrior from an orphanage who climbed up from the bottom and is said to be on track to become the youngest Death Squad leader.

But to have won a victory against the Onmyoryo forces with a level of Associate 3rd Class is an amazing achievement.

Was she more underestimated than he thought?

Reports continued to follow.

“Report from Warrior Kim Boseong of the Cheongung Squad, on the southern outskirts of the uncharted territory. Currently…….”

“The Iron Cross Knights have been defeated. The enemy is currently in the G-14 area…….”

“We have received a request for support from the support team!”

Victory after victory.

It was to the point where the support team, which supports them, rather than the warrior squads fighting on the field, was saying that they needed support.

Even Lee Dongyoung, who was indifferent to everything, couldn’t help but feel joy.

‘The framework of the operation was simple, but the Main House is strong after all.’

The operation was actually very simple.

So simple that some would say it wasn’t even an operation.

Divide and conquer.

Command and control are entrusted to the field commander.

Lee Cheol’s operation was to move along the designated route and wipe out small and medium-sized forces without stimulating large forces.

“Euhahaha.”

At that moment, laughter suddenly came from next to him.

It was the Chief Manager, Lee Taehong.

“Why are you laughing so suddenly, Chief Manager?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. I’m just proud of the guys who are reporting victories now.”

The guys?

Lee Taehong is treated as an adult even in the Soongmoo Lee Family, but using such a term in the current situation was a somewhat frivolous expression.

Lee Dongyoung noticed Lee Taehong’s gaze and immediately shook his head and replied.

“Ah, I’m sorry. The commanders of the warrior squads who are reporting victories now are all warriors I have a personal connection with.”

“Hmm, you are the Chief Manager of the Main House after all.”

Lee Dongyoung said that, but he was momentarily puzzled.

Was Chief Manager Lee Taehong the kind of person who formed friendships with such promising young warriors?

Absolutely not.

Then?

‘The Chief Manager is a member of Lee Cheol’s faction.’

If there is a connection, it would be with that side…….

‘Ah.’

Lee Doyoung looked at the current situation board with slightly widened eyes, as if he had finally realized something.

Blood Wolf Squad Leader, Choi Inha.

Cheongung Squad Acting Squad Leader, Kim Boseong.

Warrior Kim Han, belonging to the Training Inspectorate.

…….

The young talents who have recently been famous in the family were all connected to one thing.

‘Aren’t they the ones called Lee Cheol’s Division?’

Classmates of Lee Cheol’s from the cadet corps who lived with him.

When Lee Cheol founded the Cheollyeong Squad, he did not take them in, and now they are all achieving tremendous results in their respective positions.

Lee Dongyoung suddenly wondered if he had been misjudging something all along.

‘Even though he has a clear desire for the position of Family Head, I thought it was strange that Young Master Lee Cheol hasn’t been building factions or forces…… Could this be.’

Lee Dongyoung glanced at Lee Taehong’s profile, who was grinning next to him.

This man, who is in charge of the Soongmoo Lee Family’s finances, is already a well-known member of Lee Cheol’s people.

Lee Kyung-hwa, the eccentric researcher at the Research Institute, who is respected by many researchers, is Lee Cheol’s official teacher.

The promising members of the squads who are currently reporting victories, the so-called ‘Lee Cheol’s Division’, are also undeniable members of Lee Cheol’s people.

Although it was done secretly, the eighth, Lee Seohyun, also joined Lee Cheol’s faction.

Moreover, it is known that not only the fourth and fifth, but also the seventh, Lee Jaehak, are favorable to Lee Cheol.

Above all, the Family Head’s proxy, Lee Myungjung, is famous for cherishing Lee Cheol more than any other brother…….

‘It’s not that he’s not interested in power.’

He didn’t feel the need to bring the Elders or the people from each department into his faction.

The Elders already have a strange fear of Lee Cheol.

The young warriors have respect and admiration for Lee Cheol.

Because so many talents are Lee Cheol’s people.

“Young Master Lee Myungjung’s Cheonggeom Squad…….”

“The Twin Dragon Squad…….”

And following the news of the youngest Lee Cheol’s victory, the news of the victories of the direct descendants who are currently on the field poured out one after another.

It was then.

“Urgent report!”

Several dots appeared on the current situation board.

It was a black dot, meaning Lee Cheol’s unit.

“Currently, five European forces have formed an alliance!”

Alliance.

It was as Lee Myungjung had predicted.

In some countries with relatively small forces, they noticed and formed an alliance.

‘If they have formed an alliance, we may need to retreat for a while.’

Lee Dongyoung, who is currently in charge of the command center, thought so.

But then, communication was made from several places.

“B-But…… Currently, Lee Cheol, who is commanding the Cheollyeong Squad, has communicated that he will strike that side. They are requesting a response from the command center.”

“Family Head Proxy Lee Myungjung also hopes to fight against the alliance!”

Lee Dongyoung hesitated for a moment at the report.