Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 290

Surrounding me were the forces of the Russell family.

Or perhaps it would be more accurate to call them the Dawn Society.

Their numbers weren’t that great.

Whether it was because they had been largely eliminated during the trials, only a small number of knights remained.

However, the martial prowess of those few knights was considerable.

‘Like the first trial, were we originally supposed to gather with those who crossed the bridge together?’

But as the dwarf said, I seemed to be isolated once again.

“Ah…!”

Around that time, Ron, who had followed behind, nodded at me with a happy expression, and soon his father, Henry Russell, arrived before me with a relaxed gait.

“So, we meet like this. I was patrolling the area just in case.”

“I am surprised myself. It’s been a while, Lord Henry.”

We were conversing comfortably, but I didn’t let my guard down, keeping my entire body ready to unleash mana at any moment.

‘Was he this strong?’

I could tell because I had also opened a Gate.

Henry Russell had lived in the same era as my father and had maintained his position at the top.

Of course, he couldn’t be weak.

Moreover, he exuded a more advanced aura than when I had seen him at Musaeng.

“Has Soongmoo already started scouting? How long has the trial been going on that you’ve already found us?”

From those words alone, I could grasp the current situation to some extent.

‘Like the first trial? I’m separated again….’

Conversely, Henry didn’t know the situation and seemed to think I had come out scouting.

If that’s the case, it’s enough to act accordingly.

“It was just luck.”

“Then are we unlucky?”

Henry Russell said that with a light laugh.

A moment of silence descended.

I scanned my surroundings and took a long breath.

‘The number of knights is about ten. Their martial strength is around 4th to 3rd class. Counting Ron and Henry… this isn’t good.’

Ron was a friend, but the relationship between the Dawn Society and Henry Russell was unclear.

Henry had been friendly to me, but he had never revealed his exact purpose.

If he valued the trial more, he might try to take me down here. Or he might try to capture me.

But.

‘If Lord Henry isn’t a fool, he won’t try to do anything to me.’

Other organizations must have participated in this trial as well.

Unless he was confident in subduing me without any damage, he would have to worry about another organization taking advantage.

“Don’t be so nervous. Would I ever point a sword at my son’s friend?”

Swish!

As expected, Henry sheathed his sword and turned his body.

“Now that it’s come to this, how about we talk for a while? …Seeing you has confirmed something for me.”

I hesitated for a moment but soon nodded.

“Alright.”

Henry Russell smiled.

A rigid and gentle, truly knightly smile… but I felt that the smile was somewhat artificial.

* * *

Henry Russell looked at Lee Cheol.

The fact that he had opened a Gate and reached Simgeom [a high level of martial arts mastery] was something he had already guessed at the meeting with the Union.

But in the meantime, Lee Cheol’s aura had advanced once again.

If a martial artist with a lower level saw him, they might mistake him for an ordinary person.

But as someone who had opened the same Gate, he could tell that it was an energy that no one had ever shown before.

An unpredictable, free-spirited aura.

So free that it felt like nothing was there.

There were clearly still shortcomings.

But… he was not to be underestimated.

Henry Russell, a 1st class knight and an idol to all knights, sincerely thought so as he looked at Lee Cheol.

‘That level of growth at that age. He reminds me of you, Lee Tae-shin.’

Henry’s eyes sank.

He recalled the era he had spent with Lee Tae-shin.

It was a lie that he and Lee Tae-shin had competed.

Lee Tae-shin was always one step ahead.

In those days, the only one who stood in the same place as Lee Tae-shin was Cheolwiseong of Guryongchae [a legendary figure].

No, even that Cheolwiseong was inferior to Lee Tae-shin.

He could see the overwhelming figure of Lee Tae-shin in Lee Cheol.

‘But you and this young man have fundamentally different aspects.’

-You are blinded by revenge. Did you come to disturb my path to tell such absurd stories?

Henry recalled what Lee Tae-shin had told him in his youth.

That day, Henry fought Lee Tae-shin and was defeated.

That was how the Dawn Society and Lee Tae-shin, Henry and Lee Tae-shin, failed to walk the same path.

But what about Lee Cheol?

Unlike Lee Tae-shin, Lee Cheol was someone who could communicate and knew how to calculate his gains.

He didn’t know what principle Lee Tae-shin moved on, but Lee Cheol had a standard called ‘himself’.

Lee Cheol would grow even more.

Within 5 years… no, considering his abnormal growth rate, he might become an absolute being like Lee Tae-shin in an instant if he had the opportunity.

“I wanted to talk to you again.”

That’s why he wanted to grab him.

Lee Cheol, this promising young man.

If he was with him, he would be able to achieve the long-held sorrowful wish.

* * *

Henry dismissed all the knights.

Not only that, but he also sent his son Ron away with those knights.

From what he could feel, he knew that they weren’t just pretending to retreat but were actually quite far away.

‘Because he trusts me? Or to prevent the Russell family’s base from being discovered?’

I looked at Henry and narrowed my eyes.

“Shall we talk while moving for a while? There’s something I want to show you.”

Henry said that and strode into the forest.

‘Where is he going?’

I sensed what was in the place where his steps were heading.

Henry was heading towards those grotesque creatures that had the aura of the human he had seen earlier.

Is that what he wants to show me?

“You said we were going to talk, but what do you want to talk to me about?”

“It’s an extension of the story I told you last time.”

Henry sat lightly on a large rock nearby with a relaxed expression.

“You’re saying you want me to join the Dawn Society.”

“That’s right. You remembered.”

“Yes, I remember. Then, Lord Henry, do you remember what I said back then?”

Of course, Henry remembered that too.

Lee Cheol had said that if he revealed what he was hiding, he would have a proper conversation again at that time.

“Do you think I would join another organization now?”

“Join… anyone would think I’m recommending you to join a secret society or something.”

Henry said with a smile, and I also smiled faintly at those words.

Isn’t that pretty much what it is?

The Starlight Dawn Society. Whatever the case, they were one of the Six Nights [powerful secret organizations].

Henry said it was an ordinary social club, but in the end, it was a secret organization hidden from the public.

“But whatever the case, I admit that the offer was premature. I’ll withdraw the offer. You’re not someone who should be under someone else.”

Henry really had no regrets.

Lee Cheol was still lacking at that time.

Henry hadn’t been able to accurately gauge Lee Cheol either.

Lee Cheol was not someone who would follow someone else’s instructions.

A person who walks his own path.

That’s why Henry gave up on the idea of keeping him under him.

Instead, he hoped to join hands with him.

-Woo-oo-oo-oo!

At that moment, the long, drawn-out voice of a beast was heard from beyond the forest.

Henry looked in that direction for a moment, then opened his mouth with a sunken gaze.

“Do you know what those are?”

“I’m not sure yet.”

“Is that so? I know them well. I’ve been researching them for a long time. The reason I’m going this way is to show them to you.”

Each race has its own unique aura.

Humans have their own.

Dwarves have their own.

Dokkebi [a type of Korean goblin] have their own.

And what I felt from that ambiguous creature I had just encountered was.

‘…It was a human aura.’

Its appearance and form were far from human, like that of a monster.

But I felt the same aura that I had felt from Behemoth or the corrupted beings of Kabbalah [a system of Jewish mysticism].

“I see you’ve noticed to some extent. I also felt something when I saw it, so there’s no way you wouldn’t have felt anything.”

“……”

“That’s a human. To be exact, it would be correct to say it was human.”

Henry said definitively.

“They are the humans who have been corrupted by what the masked men of Behemoth, whom I have seen in this castle, worship as gods.”

The limbs were twisted and turned into monsters or beasts.

Even in a situation where the body was so broken, the ‘inside’ remained intact, so the part that was human was felt.

“They are unfortunate. It would have been better if they had been completely swallowed up and become ‘something else’. The human part remains in an ambiguous state.”

Henry wore a truly pitiful expression.

They are twisted beings.

They may have been human once, but now they are beings that cannot be called human.

“For someone who knows that, you cut them down mercilessly.”

“They are no longer human. I just thought it was my duty to send them away before they suffered any more. Didn’t you hear their screams?”

Henry slowly drew his sword and continued in a low voice.

“I think this world is wrong.”

“……”

“You have seen the records of many eras through the trials, haven’t you? Do you really think that such absurdity over thousands of years is the right form of this world?”

“You’re saying quite arrogant things.”

“Maybe. But it’s true that this world is wrong. Monsters threaten humans, and even the land to live on is restricted by them, and even human dignity is violated. Just like those.”

-Krrr!

At that time, a creature with trees and plants growing on its limbs, walking through the bushes, approached with a strange cry.

A life form that was closer to a monster than a human and had a human form rather than a monster.

‘Aren’t they terribly disgusting creatures?’

Henry frowned slightly and swung his sword.

Slash!

Without a moment’s hesitation, its head was severed.

It collapsed, and a green liquid like sap flowed out.

I watched the scene and widened my eyes for a moment.

‘What, what….’

I felt a strangely familiar aura from the fallen grotesque creature’s body.

I wanted to deny it, but my mana eyes had already caught the pulse of that aura.

‘Why….’

Does that corpse have an aura similar to that of an elf?

Do I feel that strange energy, as if it were mixed with nature?

While I was so flustered, Henry’s voice continued.

“Humans are the chosen masters of this land. But what is our situation now? We are being swayed by the wrong things that started with that unknown monster.”

Henry shook off his sword.

Then, he pointed to the twisted creature with the tip of his sword.

“That’s the same. The contaminated life form has ultimately distorted the balance of this world.”

The trials of the aerial fortress are records of this world that actually existed.

And those creatures are also real beings.

Henry knew the identities of those creatures.

They were humans, but they were twisted by the monster that was the beginning of all distortions.

They have lived on for generations and have continued their lives to the present day.

In modern times, they are called this.

They are called other races.

“What… what are you trying to say?”

“The purpose of the Dawn Society has already been said once. We are trying to create a world for humanity. Never more, never less.”

Henry held out his hand.

“I’m asking you a favor. Come with us. I’m not saying join the Dawn Society. I’m just saying, let’s work together. For the sake of the greater good, for the sake of humanity.”

I didn’t take Henry’s hand and continued to stare at the fallen, twisted corpse.

I felt the strange distortion I had felt from Henry becoming more and more concrete in my head.

I raised my head and looked straight into Henry’s eyes.

“Lord Henry, I have just one question.”

“What is it?”

“Lord Henry, what does the ‘humanity’ that the Dawn Society speaks of refer to?”

Henry continued with an expression that it was obvious.

“Well, isn’t it talking about humans?”

“……I’m asking about the scope of that human.”

Henry still had a smile on his face as he continued.

“Of course, it refers to pure humans like you and me.”

Purity.

A truly ominous word from Henry’s mouth.

“Monsters, that monster… starting with Gates and Dungeons, Blue Holes and everything….”

Henry’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent.

“And even the twisted other races.”

Finally, those words came out of Henry’s mouth.

“Everything that comes from them is the distortion of this world. They are unacceptable beings. Only after they are wiped out and purified will this world have the right shape.”