Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 27

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 27

05:30 AM, Training Ground for Class 5.

I stood firm, even as my entire body screamed in protest.

‘I overdid it yesterday. Whew, my whole body aches.’

It might sound strange coming from a 13-year-old, but my entire body throbbed.

The infirmary’s treatment and the use of recovery magic had left me feeling refreshed last night, but waking up this morning, aches started to surface everywhere.

Especially my jaw, which had been hit multiple times, and the overused muscles in my thighs and arms were particularly sore.

Still, I was continuously using recovery magic, so I should be able to get back to perfect condition by the end of the day.

“……”

Arriving at the training ground, I saw the cadets who had arrived earlier.

“He’s here.”

“Came really early.”

I felt their gazes turn towards me.

They seemed to be trying to gauge my reaction, as if wanting to strike up a conversation.

‘Still, it’s a relief.’

Even if there were cadets who showed hostility or felt repulsion, none of them were avoiding me or averting their eyes.

If they had been as dispirited as a beaten dog like yesterday, there would have been no hope.

Maybe, just maybe, they had changed a little.

“L, Lord… Young Master. You’ve arrived.”

Just then, Kim Han, one of the cadets who had been watching me, cautiously approached.

I smiled and nodded.

“You’re here early.”

Kim Han’s expression brightened at my casual greeting.

“……I was worried that I only showed you my inadequate side yesterday.”

“We’re still cadets. It’s only natural to be lacking.”

Kim Han stammered at my reply, scratching the back of his head.

Then, as if having made up his mind, he opened his mouth.

“Young Master, if it’s not too much to ask, may I ask you something?”

“Feel free to ask.”

“I was greatly stimulated by what you showed us yesterday. Those words……”

“Spare me the flattery and get to the point.”

Kim Han took a deep breath and asked with a confident posture.

“What should I do? Can I… become like you, Young Master?”

I could feel a strange heat in Kim Han’s eyes.

I smiled again at the sight.

‘This is more like it.’

At this point, I was curious as to why I didn’t remember such a kid.

“I welcome such requests anytime. But guidance? I’m not at a level to teach anyone yet.”

“I understand what the struggle is. But I don’t know what I can do right now to do my part.”

I recalled Kim Han’s performance yesterday.

Kim Han had appeared near the end.

I remembered suppressing him with an unconventional attack without dragging it out for too long since his stamina was already depleted.

“You have good eyes. Or maybe it’s a good sense.”

“Pardon?”

“You dodged my feints three times in a row yesterday, didn’t you? How did you do it?”

“Ah… As expected, you noticed, Young Master. My eyes are a bit better than average. I saw the power draining when you threw out the feints.”

I was surprised again at those words.

Distinguishing the opponent’s feints from real attacks was something everyone had to do, but it wasn’t easy.

“Make the most of those eyes. I think technique suits you better than strength. If you hone what you have with your life on the line, you’ll be different someday.”

“Hmm……”

Kim Han sank into thought, humming for a long time.

Around that time, the assembly time was gradually approaching. The dim training ground began to brighten faintly.

“……Greetings.”

And against the brightening sky, Choi Inha appeared.

His fingers were in a cast. His complexion was pale, so it seemed he had internal injuries as well.

“You look terrible.”

“Yes.”

“In that state, you won’t be able to participate in training, will you?”

At my words, Choi Inha gave a bitter smile.

“Would you have understood if I had rested? Or would you have said something about struggle again and thought I was pathetic?”

It was quite a rebellious tone.

Cadets who had known Choi Inha from the start were taken aback by his attitude and glanced sideways.

“So?”

“I just came out because I don’t want to hear those words anymore.”

Choi Inha spat out those words and staggered towards one side of the training ground.

The cadets greeted Choi Inha brightly, but Choi Inha only nodded with an indifferent face.

‘He’s changed.’

Boys entering puberty are easily stimulated and easily changed.

In my past life, Choi Inha was an unknown soldier. He was a good person, but that was it.

But if this change continues, maybe it will be different this time.

Starting with Choi Inha, cadets who had been approaching the training ground with sluggish movements turned their gazes towards me.

Some with eyes burning fiercely, some with eyes full of hostility, and some with confused eyes.

At exactly 6 o’clock, Lee Jungho appeared on the platform.

The cadets, who had been scattered here and there, quickly lined up in two rows.

“Four sick, five absent without leave. A total of 11. I’ll skip the report today. From now on, the squad leader decided yesterday will report.”

At Lee Jungho’s words, the cadets subtly glanced in my direction.

Lee Jungho looked around at the cadets gathered in the training ground and sighed softly.

‘They all look exhausted.’

So many sick on the first day of the cadet corps. Moreover, there are one or two kids who attended with injuries, though not as severe as Choi Inha.

‘Besides, the atmosphere… has changed. Thanks to one predator, those relaxed guys are on edge.’

All the cadets’ attention was focused on one person, the youngest bastard standing expressionlessly in the back.

It was like putting a catfish in a sardine tank; the sardines would struggle to survive.

“Originally, today’s schedule was basic measurements, but looking at the condition……”

Lee Jungho stopped speaking.

He recalled what Lee Chul had pointed out after spending sleepless nights reflecting.

Do it right.

Lee Jungho opened his mouth with a determined expression.

“I’ll correct that. We’ll start the basic measurements right now.”

The training ground buzzed.

A cadet raised his hand and shouted.

“Instructor! There are many injured due to the sparring session led by the youngest Young Master yesterday, so measurements are limited! There are also people who are sick!”

Lee Jungho turned his head towards the cadet with a cold gaze.

“So? You voluntarily held the sparring session to elect a squad leader. You must also take responsibility for it.”

“B, but there are many injured and everyone’s physical condition is……”

“If you’re going to whine like that, leave. No one’s stopping you.”

“Y, yes? I’m just…… Why are you suddenly like this…… Instructor Lee Jungho……”

The cadet’s voice trembled, seemingly shocked by the sudden change in the instructor’s behavior.

“I think I’ve spoiled the cadets so far. From now on, I will faithfully fulfill my duties as an instructor of the cadet corps. You should all know that too.”

Another buzz circulated in the training ground.

Still a pathetic sight.

But the transition period will not be long. I will make it so, and those who have already changed will lead the change.

“We will start the basic measurements right away.”

With Lee Jungho’s words, the first schedule of the cadet corps began.

* * *

There were three measurements.

Mana, physical strength, martial arts, and liberal arts knowledge.

I was all first-class.

‘……It’s more serious than I thought.’

On the other hand, the Class 5 cadets, known as the junkyard, were as expected, at best 4th or 5th class, and averaged between 6th and 7th class.

Of course, yesterday’s influence would have played a part. Perhaps the actual skill of the cadets was one or two levels higher.

“Measurement complete. Conduct autonomous training under the leadership of the squad leader. We will gather at 06:00 tomorrow as well. That’s all.”

The measurement ended at 16:00 [4 PM].

It was called basic, but as expected of Sungmu Academy, it was a practical measurement that pushed everything to the limit.

The measurement, which lasted almost 10 hours excluding meal times and breaks, was exhausting even for me.

I left the panting cadets behind and went up to the platform.

“There’s no need for self-introductions, right? I’m Lee Chul, the squad leader.”

Clap, clap…….

The sound of applause was cut short. A few people, including Kim Han, clapped, but even they stopped, gauging the atmosphere.

“You heard Choi Inha yesterday. The squad leader has all authority except for the instructor’s orders.”

The cadets flinched.

“I’m going to push you mercilessly. Only those who can keep up should follow. I have no intention of dragging along those who won’t.”

“What is he saying.”

“……Annoying bastard.”

There were plenty of grumbling voices. I knew they were saying it on purpose for me to hear. I didn’t bother pointing it out.

“If you don’t like me, feel free to apply for a sparring session at any time. If you land even one effective hit on me, I’ll hand over the squad leader position. But you’ll have to be prepared because there won’t be any clumsy rules like mana usage restrictions then.”

The cadets were still silent.

In that silence, Choi Inha’s low voice was heard.

“If we follow that training… will we get stronger?”

“No.”

I shook my head firmly.

“I guess you still don’t understand. Whether you get stronger or not is up to you. Don’t look for it from me.”

The cadet corps is a place that teaches many things.

And what to gain from those lessons, and how much stronger to become, is up to each individual.

“No need for long words, let’s start right away.”

I opened my mouth.

“Fight the person next to you.”

* * *

A sudden sparring session began.

I didn’t explain anything.

I didn’t explain whether mana could be used or not.

Fight.

That was the only thing I said.

“Huff, huff-.”

“Damn it. Why are we doing this……”

Everyone was in terrible condition due to yesterday’s events, and their mana and stamina were greatly depleted due to the basic measurements.

Few people had a proper sparring form.

“Huff, huff-.”

“Those who are finished, spar diagonally. Don’t stop. It will continue like that.”

The beginning of endless sparring.

30 minutes passed like that.

The first dropout appeared.

“I can’t do it! I can’t do it! I lost! I lost!”

“This is the limit! I can’t do it!”

And again, several cadets dropped out.

Now 45 minutes.

There were eight left.

Choi Inha swung his sword with bloodshot eyes.

1 hour.

Gradually, the sparring turned into a free-for-all, and people began to faint and fall.

1 hour 35 minutes.

There were six left in total.

They continued to spar indiscriminately with each other.

Choi Inha vomited blood, probably because his internal injuries had worsened in the middle. But he didn’t give up and continued sparring.

“……”

The cadets who had given up in the middle and were watching the sparring felt a complex emotion.

No, they all knew. The name of that emotion was defeat.

“Aaaagh!”

Choi Inha screamed as he unknowingly blocked the opponent’s attack with his right hand in a cast.

He didn’t let go of his sword even as tears streamed down his face.

1 hour 45 minutes…… 2 hours.

The limit had already been exceeded.

The remaining cadets couldn’t even move their arms; their fighting was reduced to the level of children’s squabbles.

‘This is it.’

I also know that excessive training is not good. It’s just that the current Class 5 needed this external pressure.

Today is up to here.

I lowered my sword.

“Stop. Let’s stop here for today.”

I was also breathing heavily. At my words, the six survivors collapsed.

“We endured to the end. It’s not like… huff, we didn’t fight… huff!”

With a name similar to Choi Inha, was it Im Youngha?

He was a well-built boy who had openly shown his rebellious spirit as my second sparring partner yesterday. He glared at me with burning eyes.

“So?”

“Let me ask you one thing.”

“Speak.”

“If we change… if we do that struggle thing… will we be able to achieve anything?”

“At least you’ll be on the starting line.”

Everyone closed their mouths at those words.

I looked around at the cadets who were watching the sparring.

They all flinched or averted their eyes uncomfortably when they met my gaze.

“Let’s call it a day. Good work.”

I said that and left the training ground.

* * *

A heavy silence remained in the training ground.

“Good work, guys.”

“You must be tired.”

The cadets who had given up halfway quickly came down and began to take the other cadets’ equipment.

“……”

Those who had continued sparring until they fainted, or those who had remained until the end, did not answer their words.

The embarrassed cadets smiled awkwardly and spoke again.

“What a hardship because of that bastard.”

“I know, right.”

Last year’s Class 5 cadet corps wasn’t like this. It was a warm atmosphere where they cared for each other, led by Choi Inha.

“……I don’t like that bastard. What’s the point of this.”

“Such outdated spiritualism. We should be training while strictly adhering to the schedule. I have no intention of following that.”

“Stop it.”

It was Kim Han. Kim Han spoke with trembling eyes.

“I’m… rather upset. The Young Master was also very exhausted, but I couldn’t hit him even once.”

The cadets who were badmouthing Lee Chul closed their mouths at those words.

An awkward atmosphere. Uncomfortable air.

They were all trying to turn their eyes away.

But one cadet who still didn’t want to admit it opened his mouth.

“T, that’s right, Inha. What do you think? I’m so annoyed by that bastard that I can’t do it. At this rate, I might quit the cadet corps. We were good last year. You should rather……”

Choi Inha, who had been staring blankly at the ground, suddenly started chuckling when he heard those words.

“We were so good that we got held back.”

“……What?”

“If you don’t like it, leave. I… have no intention of doing that.”

Choi Inha brushed off the arm of the cadet who was reaching out to support him and glared coldly.

“If I can’t change this time… I really feel like I’ll live like a loser. I want to try it once, even if my arms and legs are broken. Really, really……”

Choi Inha was gritting his teeth.

“How is doing this going to help! What’s with the endless sparring in the 21st century! More efficient……”

“I know too. I know this is crazy. But… I haven’t achieved anything by following that efficiency until now.”

Choi Inha smiled bitterly and continued.

“I’m not a descendant of a well-off branch family or a child of a powerful retainer family. I’m just an orphan from Hope House. Isn’t pursuing efficiency only for those who were born with it?”

He received a lot of support as a veteran’s honor, but the life of an orphan is all the same.

Choi Inha gritted his teeth and said.

“You guys actually know too. What that youngest bastard… no, what the Young Master is trying to make us do.”

“……”

The cadets’ eyes wavered.

“I’m going to try that struggle thing. I don’t want to be a person who is ashamed of my parents. No, I don’t want to be ashamed of myself either. I think this is really the last time.”

Everyone closed their mouths at Choi Inha’s words.

They also knew. They were just trying not to accept this uncomfortable atmosphere and change.

Including the repeaters and the new cadets.

If they hadn’t felt anything from Lee Chul’s actions over the past two days, they wouldn’t have been able to enter the cadet corps in the first place.

“So get your act together. Rebelling, pretending not to know even though you do… I’m going to get stronger in the time I waste on that. I’ve given up on just trying to get promoted this time because I realized that I can only stand on the starting line by doing this.”

This is Sungmu Academy.

Where strength is considered the highest value.

A monstrous place where struggle is engraved in the bones.

The weak are eliminated, and the strong take everything.

Living moderately in this place is a luxury in itself.

Whether they are children or adults, those who do not struggle cannot survive in Sungmu Academy.

Choi Inha staggered to his feet.

His staggering appearance was precarious. But he didn’t look pathetic at all.