Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 287

While the trials at the Aerial Fortress unfolded with urgency, a sharp tension permeated the halls of the Soong Moo Yi family.

“Acting Head of Family, information has arrived from the Black Crow Society. As expected, the Nine Dragons Stronghold has seen the power of the Five Great Clans collapse, replaced by forces loyal to the Stronghold Lord.”

“What of the Nine Dragons Stronghold Lord’s whereabouts?”

“Their location remains a mystery. The Black Crow Society is continuously…”

“The Intelligence Department reports sightings of the Kabbalah [an esoteric school of thought] in the American continent!”

“Set that aside for now. Request additional information from the Black Crow Society. Instruct our family’s businesses to hire mercenaries for thorough personal protection.”

“Urgent report from the 2nd Unit, 3rd Squad Leader of the Northern European Branch’s Spirit Sword Division! A ‘black cloud’ in the shape of a dragon has appeared off the coast of Norway! The Norwegian government forces have been annihilated!”

Urgent reports poured in from all directions, and Lee Myung-jung sat at the head of the table, controlling the complex and rapidly changing situation.

The Soong Moo Yi family had entered a state of war.

The chaos that began in the Aerial Fortress was spreading across the globe.

From the terrorist attack caused by the Eiffel Magic Tower to the aftermath of the battle in the unexplored regions of Asia, international affairs were significantly affected.

Moreover, ominous phenomena were erupting in various parts of the world, reported almost daily.

Although there were no actual engagements or battles, a chilling atmosphere reminiscent of the Cold War era following a major conflict enveloped the world.

Peace had been both short and long, and everyone had been stockpiling their strength since the Great War.

Those with power naturally want to use it.

Everyone felt that the times were rapidly changing.

Amidst this, Lee Myung-jung, dealing with the storm of reports, leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath.

“Hoo…”

“Acting Head of Family, please rest for a moment.”

The newly appointed Elder Council Head, Lee Dong-young, approached and spoke.

Lee Myung-jung gave a bitter smile and nodded.

“Haha, I’m a bit out of it.”

Lee Dong-young silently nodded, bringing tea and refreshments to Lee Myung-jung.

“…The family’s Intelligence Department and Spirit Sword Division are capable. Have a little more faith in your staff.”

“I trust them fully. I just thought I couldn’t be the only one resting.”

Lee Myung-jung turned her gaze to the screen on the wall of the command center.

The real-time situation of the Aerial Fortress was being broadcast on the largest screen.

Lee Chul and Lee Jin-yoon are there.

They must be fighting too.

Lee Myung-jung couldn’t afford to rest either.

This place was her battlefield.

“Still, it’s fortunate that the Black Crow Society’s information is so helpful. Their intelligence gathering and technical skills must be acknowledged.”

Lee Myung-jung subtly lifted a document with a small black crow emblem, speaking softly.

The current world is like a pile of dry firewood.

A small spark could ignite a massive fire at any moment.

Information and diplomacy were more critical than ever, and in this environment, the Black Crow Society’s cooperation was like a godsend to the Soong Moo Yi family.

-I heard the story from Lee Chul. From this moment on, our society will establish an unconditional cooperative system with the Soong Moo Yi family.

Lee Myung-jung recalled the words of the Black Crow Society Leader.

‘A mysterious impression. He seems to get along well with our youngest. Come to think of it, he doesn’t even use honorifics.’

Lee Myung-jung even had such thoughts, inappropriately, and gave a light smile.

Watching Lee Myung-jung, Lee Dong-young spoke with a worried voice.

“I can’t deny that they are helpful, but we can’t trust them completely. They are, after all, closer to Lee Chul Gongja’s [young master] private organization than to our family’s.”

“Hmm, I know. They’re helping us now because of our youngest’s words.”

At that moment.

The warrior in charge of communications at the rear of the command center quickly raised his head and raised his voice.

“Acting Head of Family! Report from the main gate! But, that, that is…”

The warrior hesitated, unable to continue the report.

“The main gate? What is it? Speak quickly.”

The report that came from the warrior’s mouth was enough to startle both of them.

“An unidentified warrior covered in blood and wearing a unique black uniform is causing a disturbance at the main gate. The warrior is severely injured and…”

“Covered in blood? Black uniform?”

In an instant, Lee Myung-jung thought of the name of a group consisting of ten members.

And an ominous premonition flashed through her mind.

“What kind of disturbance are they causing?”

“They are requesting to call for the Acting Head of Family. They are stammering like a madman, saying they have brought a message under the Head of Family’s orders…”

Thud!

Lee Myung-jung kicked off the ground as soon as she heard that.

Lee Dong-young hurriedly followed, and the warrior who had been reporting swallowed hard.

Lee Myung-jung ran.

To deny the ominous premonition flashing through her mind.

Without even caring about the dignity that came with the name of the Soong Moo Yi family’s Acting Head, she used her mana to leap over buildings, pass by warriors on guard duty, and arrive at the family’s main gate via the shortest route.

Kwaang!

Such was the urgency of her arrival that a whirlwind swept around her the moment Lee Myung-jung arrived.

“Ch, Chief!”

“Where is he?”

“Th, there he is. Currently…”

Without even listening to the full report from the main gate guards, Lee Myung-jung opened the gate and headed outside.

There, a man was kneeling, seemingly exhausted, staring at the ground.

The first thing that caught her eye was the black uniform issued only to the Spirit Sword Division.

Clothing that could only be made by the family’s specialized seamstress with special abilities.

No, it wasn’t an ordinary black uniform. It was similar to an old-fashioned black uniform that was no longer in use.

The unique uniform was torn in several places, stained with dirt and blood.

…Lee Myung-jung knew those who wore that uniform.

“Could it be, a member of the Ten Swords?”

The Ten Swords.

A group of warriors created directly by her father before he became the Head of Family, a group only for her father.

Thud!

As soon as Lee Myung-jung finished speaking, the man’s body trembled.

His face was haggard, and his eyes were unfocused.

“Acting Head of Family… Are you Lee Myung-jung Doryeonim [esteemed young lady] of the Twin Stars…”

Lee Myung-jung quickly approached the man and supported his body.

The man barely leaned on Lee Myung-jung’s arm, continuing in a trembling voice.

“Ten Swords… Park Chan, serving… Head of Family Lee Tae-shin…”

A strong smell of blood emanated from his breath.

Lee Myung-jung urgently channeled mana into his body.

“What on earth… what happened?”

Examining his body, Lee Myung-jung’s eyes widened.

His injuries were as severe as could be.

The abdomen, roughly bound with bandages, was covered in blood, indicating inadequate hemostasis [stoppage of bleeding], and one arm was visibly broken and hanging limply.

The internal injuries were even worse.

No, it wasn’t just internal injuries; his insides were practically mush.

“Stop talking for now. You need to receive treatment first. Your injuries are severe. What are you doing! To the medical ward immediately!”

Lee Myung-jung was about to turn her head and shout when.

Tuk!

The man grabbed Lee Myung-jung’s wrist, stopping her.

“There’s not… much time…”

The man spoke haltingly, one word at a time.

The man reached into his chest and took something out.

“Bad news…”

Bad news.

A word meaning sad news.

The man, breathless, struggled to finish his words, pushing what he had taken out of his chest towards Lee Myung-jung.

Clatter!

What came out of the man’s chest was nothing other than pieces of metal wrapped in cloth.

Not ordinary pieces of metal.

Fragments of shattered weapons, with only the hilt and part of the blade remaining.

“…!”

Lee Myung-jung felt her breath catch in her throat.

With trembling hands, she reached for the hilt.

The heavy sensation, the familiar touch of worn metal, was clearly felt at her fingertips.

Lee Myung-jung knew very well what these weapons were.

“Acting Head of Family!”

The Elder Council Head approached just in time.

He also looked at the man, his gaze drawn to the pieces of metal handed from the man to Lee Myung-jung.

Even Lee Dong-young stared down at them, frozen like a stone.

“There was a battle… cough! In the unexplored regions… In that battle, our lord, Head of Family Lee Tae-shin…”

From the man’s mouth, unbelievable news was delivered.

“…has passed away.”

Thump!

Lee Myung-jung felt her heart leap.

She stopped breathing without realizing it, and her mind felt as if it was being bleached white.

‘What am I…’

Did I hear?

Lee Myung-jung couldn’t help but doubt her ears.

The Head of the Soong Moo Yi family, revered by all warriors, the strongest warrior of the era.

The news that her father had died.

Clearly, that was the story she had heard.

“What, what, are you, saying.”

Lee Myung-jung felt her hands trembling.

She had no room to think about anything else due to the shocking news.

And then.

Before Lee Myung-jung could even process the shock, she realized that someone had approached her.

Thud!

Right in front of her, the sound of light footsteps.

A shadow fell over the spot where Park Chan and Lee Myung-jung were sitting.

Lee Myung-jung looked up.

A man was standing there.

With skin as pale as snow, lips as red as if stained with blood, and light yellow eyes that seemed transparent, looking down at them.

“It’s been a while, Hyungnim [term of respect for an older brother or male], Elder Council Head.”

A polite tone.

His face was not clearly visible as he stood with his back to the sun.

“But… the situation is awkward for greetings. To hear news of Father’s passing as soon as I return after so long.”

The third son, Lee Goon-sung.

He had returned to the family with the news of Head of Family Lee Tae-shin’s death.

* * *

Seonjonim [an honorific title] Lee Hyang-seon looked down at the Black Night I was holding.

“How much do you know about that sword?”

Seonjonim asked, and I answered with what I knew.

From the stories I heard in Mirenae Village to what I had learned through my experiences.

“I see. That’s all that was passed down.”

Seonjonim nodded and immediately began to speak.

“Your father tried to hide that sword. That’s why he placed a seal on it himself.”

The story began with those words.

It was written in the Black Night Records and could be read in the memories of the Black Night.

“There were several reasons. The first was, of course, the sword’s uniqueness. For an average person to wield it, that sword is… excessively dangerous.”

There was no more appropriate word to describe the Black Night.

There are many things in this world that can be called strong weapons.

But the Black Night was not a weapon that could be classified as strong or weak.

A dangerous weapon.

A terribly dangerous weapon with special powers beyond human comprehension.

“But the main purpose was something else. It was to select a suitable vessel.”

“A suitable vessel, you say?”

“It was to find someone with a strong destiny who could wield the Black Night. If an average destiny were mixed in, the cause and effect would become twisted, so he did that to keep it intact until a suitable vessel appeared.”

Seonjonim’s eyes shone brightly even in the darkness of the crypt.

“The Iron Selection Ceremony, which may still exist in your time, was for this purpose.”

I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

The ceremony that the children of the main family usually perform, like a first birthday celebration.

It was to select a child who could wield the Black Night.

‘To prevent the Black Night from being used by an average person… he sealed the Black Night?’

If it was sealed because it was dangerous, it would have been understandable.

Under the value of Soong Moo, it would be understandable to block the possibility of excessive immersion in the power of the sword.

But what Seonjonim was saying now was not that.

Seonjonim’s words were as if… he valued the Black Night more than the Soong Moo Yi family.

“…Was it just the Iron Selection Ceremony? The naming ceremony was also the same. It was a test created to forcibly awaken abilities in order to create a vessel. The twelve seasonal divisions, Cheonwisan, everything… was for Father’s purpose.”

It’s strange.

As if a thorn was stuck in my throat, I felt a strange sense of incongruity in the story that was flowing out.

As if muttering to himself, Seonjonim continued to speak.

“Everything in the Soong Moo Yi family was due to Father’s vain obsession. I created a family that would not decline for a thousand years according to Father’s instructions. No… I ended up creating it. It was too late when I knew all the facts.”

I felt two conflicting emotions in Seonjonim’s voice.

Loving the Soong Moo Yi family, but also regretting it.

‘The obsession of the founder, Lee Hyul-hyun…?’

What on earth is that?

“I don’t… understand. Didn’t you leave the Black Night behind to find someone in later generations to defeat the primordial monster? Or for the family… no, what does obsession even mean? What are you saying now, Seonjonim…”

I stopped asking and shut my mouth.

There were too many questions, and my thoughts were so disorganized that I didn’t even know what to ask.

It felt like one important piece was missing, so I couldn’t quite understand Seonjonim’s words.

‘The founder created the Black Night and left it behind… wasn’t it for the sake of a noble cause?’

I had been guessing that inwardly.

To kill the primordial monster in later generations.

That’s why he created the tests, created the seals, and created the family.

But what Seonjonim was saying was like….

“You don’t know. Now I understand why you had such an uncomprehending look. Did Father thoroughly erase it so that it wouldn’t be passed down? Was all the arrangement I left behind erased too…”

More and more, the story was getting stranger.

The sense of incongruity that came to mind was getting stronger.

“In the end, everything started for Father’s own purpose. There was no noble cause in it.”

In Seonjonim’s eyes, which were getting older and older, there was deep fatigue and regret.

“I tried to make the Black Night known against Father’s will, and I tried to reveal the truth of the family.”

“But what came back to me was a fragment of a monster that was eating away at the world, and my intentions were frustrated, and the truth was hidden.”

“All of that was Father’s punishment. I had learned too much than Father had expected.”

Seonjonim’s appearance was aging every moment.

Now, in a completely old man’s unique, locked voice, the story continued.

“Child. How much record of the existence of Lee Hyul-hyun, the founder of the Soong Moo Yi family, remains in your time?”

“Almost… none. It’s even treated as fiction.”

“Haven’t you ever questioned that? If there was a child and a large family was formed, it is natural to record things about the ancestors.”

I swallowed hard.

Of course, it was a part that I had been wondering about.

There was ‘too much’ nothing about the founder.

The records that existed, even briefly, were unbelievable and absurd, and therefore, they were even more regarded as fictional figures.

That’s what the founder did.

What for?

What is the obsession that Seonjo is talking about?

No, before that, why is Seonjo….

“Why are you… talking about the founder as if he were an evil person? And as if the founder…”

…as if he hadn’t died.

And as if he had lived a long time and done all those things himself, that’s how he’s talking.

The identity of the sense of incongruity that I felt in Seonjonim’s words was this part.

“Child. Your thoughts are right.”

Seonjonim looked at me.

I met Seonjonim’s eyes.

Seonjonim’s voice slowly flowed out.

“My father, our founder Lee Hyul-hyun, who was called the God of War… is a monster. A wrong existence that should not have been born.”

The words that followed were an unbelievable story.

“And the Soong Moo Yi family was a family that should not have been created. The newly born young bloodlines, the family traditions, the inherited seasonal divisions and history… everything in the family is just a tool for Father’s own obsession.”

Seonjonim held his trembling hand with his other hand and slowly answered.

“He will still be alive in your time. To achieve his purpose over thousands of years.”