Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 293

Weapon-Devouring Bastard 293

Serena swallowed hard, seeing Michael blocking their escape route.

An ominous magical power enveloped him.

‘Is that… truly the Tower Lord of the Eiffel Magic Tower?’

The wise and knowledgeable figure known to the world was nowhere to be found in him.

‘Still, if we’ve gotten this close, it’s not like there’s no way to fight back. Even though Master isn’t in good condition, if we can just get close enough!’

Serena gripped the mace she had been dragging, her eyes gleaming.

Michael looked at her and let out a bitter sneer.

“Though an obstruction has interfered, I cannot simply let you go. I’ve lost quite a bit during the trials, you see. You’ll have to compensate me.”

Thud!

At that moment, warriors resembling the bloodline of Soongmoo Yi landed behind Michael.

The Undead.

Those grotesque beings he had faced with Lee Cheol in the unexplored lands of Northern Europe.

And the ones who had caused most of the Church’s forces to meet their end.

‘This is a disaster. Five of them, no less….’

A whopping five. Five more warriors at the 3rd Class level had been added.

Michael no longer had the weakness of close combat.

Rather, with these bullet shields to block her and the paladin’s approach, he would surely be able to leisurely torment them with magic from behind.

Whoo-oong!

As if he had no intention of waiting, Michael began to form hand seals behind the Undead.

The unraveling magical power drew a magic circle, emitting an ominous vibration.

Just as the magic was about to erupt, Serena tensed up and was about to step forward.

“…Tsk.”

Poosh!

With a sound like air escaping, Michael abruptly canceled the magic and flicked his hand to the side.

Kwaaaang!

And an explosion erupted from that direction.

Several dozen layers of barriers created in the air shattered like glass.

Amidst the scattering fragments, a man with an inhumanly expressionless face revealed himself.

Unnaturally pale skin and emotionless features to match.

It was the man who had led Behemoth’s forces.

“Foolish one. You have crossed the line. I clearly warned you not to touch His remains. All that was permitted to you was the shell.”

“The Great Teacher instructed me to reach the edge of the castle. I am merely following his orders.”

“A pawn of a blind old man who deludes himself into thinking he is wise… The price for that sin will be your life.”

Kaga-ga-gak!

The fist he extended collided with the barrier spread in the air, creating fierce sparks.

Slowly, very slowly, the barrier was shattered one by one by his advancing fist.

Michael watched this and clicked his tongue lowly.

“I didn’t expect the Human-Faced Lord to come himself. But it’s all the better. I was wondering whether there was a human inside that mask or not.”

Kwaaaaaaa!

The 1st Class mage’s magic exploded in an instant.

The apostle of Behemoth gathered all the masked ones he had prepared behind him and made them charge.

The masked ones and the Undead clashed.

A clash of the deformed against the deformed.

Both were enemies from the Church’s perspective, but this situation was nothing short of fortunate.

“Paladin Order! Retreat!”

Saintess Christina made a firm decision and retreated the paladins.

The Church was able to escape only thanks to the battle between the two.

And after hastily moving to avoid any possible pursuit, they were able to arrive.

The Soongmoo Yi’s stronghold.

The place where Lee Cheol was.

* * *

Contrary to the worry that they might be turned away, Lee Cheol welcomed Serena and the Church’s forces as soon as they arrived at the Soongmoo Yi’s stronghold.

“…Thank you, Lee Cheol.”

Serena bowed her head in gratitude, even in her exhausted state.

No matter how good the relationship between the Church and Soongmoo Yi was, they were still rivals in the trial of the Sky Citadel.

Yet, Lee Cheol had decided to protect them without hesitation.

“I heard the story. I was wondering if I should go provide support. First, come inside.”

“Thank you, really, thank you.”

I examined the condition of Serena and the Church’s forces.

There weren’t many of them, and they were all in bad shape.

The total number of people was only seven, including Saintess Christina and Serena.

‘Still, it’s a relief.’

It wasn’t too late.

They were at a level where they could be treated.

It would be better to receive professional treatment, but if I created weapons with recovery abilities and used my healing magic, they would recover sufficiently.

“Lee Cheol, Young Master….”

And then.

I found Saintess Christina, who looked like she was about to faint, her eyes devoid of strength.

‘Has this person been hurt this much?’

I looked at her in surprise for a moment.

The flow of her magical power was erratic, to the point where she could fall into magical backlash at any moment, and she had no strength in her arms and legs.

Moreover, she had suffered considerable external injuries. She was severely injured.

The reason why she, a 1st Class knight who had reached perfection, was so broken was none other than the Black Energy.

‘This is….’

Traces of dark Black Energy could be seen on her abdomen.

A pulsating, ominous, dark, and viscous substance, throbbing as if it were a living being.

It was different from what I had seen from the Primordial Beast.

Kabbalah. It was the Black Energy that Michael Garrell had used.

“You mustn’t touch it. This energy… Even Lee Cheol Young Master….”

“I’m fine. Let’s start with the treatment first. We can talk about the details later.”

“Lee Cheol. Master, can Master be healed?”

Looking at Serena, who approached limping, I smiled.

“Of course. It’s not a difficult task.”

“Yes?”

Serena hesitated, seemingly flustered.

That black energy was a monster that would latch on with even the slightest contact and instantly devour its host.

Even divine magic, which was specialized in recovery and defense, could only barely resist it, yet he said it wasn’t a difficult task.

“I’ll support you. Lean on me.”

First, I laid Saintess Christina down and used my Mystic Eyes to examine her in detail.

‘In more detail. Don’t just look at what the eyes show, but clearly recognize what you want to see.’

That was how Luga had taught me to use the Mystic Eyes.

With more accurate recognition, I glared at her abdomen.

And.

Woo-oong!

I could see black energy swirling around her abdomen as if a hole had been punched through it.

It was blocked from penetrating further by a thin magical barrier, but it felt like it would immediately devour her body if she relaxed her guard even slightly.

Not only that.

This hazy energy, like smoke, was trying to take root.

This was the form of a human soul.

The Black Energy was not only corrupting the body but also trying to contaminate the soul.

‘What exactly is the Primordial Beast that it can do this? This guy’s power is really… incredibly bizarre.’

I frowned.

That black energy contaminates humans and grotesquely transforms their bodies.

To my eyes, it felt like… it was trying to dye everything in the world with its own color.

“Lee Cheol? Is something… wrong?”

Serena looked at me with worried eyes.

I stopped thinking and shook my head.

“It’s nothing. Then, let’s begin.”

I reached out without hesitation.

The Black Energy, nestled in her abdomen, pulsating ominously.

I grabbed it.

Thud!

The moment Choi’s power gripped the Black Energy.

“…!”

Saintess Christina’s eyes widened as if they were about to tear.

Fortunately, no groan escaped from her slightly opened mouth, but it was impossible to even guess how great the pain was.

“Lee Cheol!”

Serena, who was watching from the side, raised her voice in alarm, but I ignored her and tore off the Black Energy that had taken root in Saintess Christina’s abdomen.

Pooh-wack!

Soon, Choi devoured it ravenously.

Then, Saintess Christina lost consciousness and collapsed.

I dusted off my hands and turned around.

“It’s done.”

“…Yes? Is it over?”

“Yes, can’t you see?”

Serena rushed over and examined her master.

It was true.

She had fainted, but the black energy could no longer be seen.

Her internal and external injuries remained, but she was breathing properly.

“Ah, ah….”

Serena slumped down.

She was alive.

She could finally feel that she had succeeded in surviving.

* * *

The treatment of the Church’s forces took quite a bit of time.

The time it took to gather the surrounding magical power with Gyeongcheon and heal everyone with healing magic was about half a day.

Only after I had healed even Serena, who had stubbornly postponed her treatment until the very end, was I able to have a calm conversation with her.

“Thank you, Lee Cheol. Really.”

Serena bowed her head politely and expressed her gratitude.

After greeting me, she glanced to the side.

There, Saintess Christina was lying on a bed made of wood and straw.

Serena had even received her own treatment while guarding her side.

“How many times are you going to thank me? We’re not so formal with each other, are we?”

At the joke I threw to ease the atmosphere, Serena finally gave a light smile.

“Yes. We were friends. We are.”

Serena smiled shyly, but with a tired expression.

“Anyway, you don’t have to feel burdened. I’ve only done what I could.”

Healing magic is basically a magical technique performed on oneself, not on others.

Its effectiveness is halved when used on others.

In Anastasia’s case, the effect was good because I had completely grasped her body, but the Church’s forces were not in that situation.

The only forces that could be fully utilized as combat power were… at most, Serena and the paladin.

“Still, thank you. That alone was a great help.”

“More importantly, are you feeling better?”

“Yes, I can gradually recover from my internal injuries. But what about Master….”

Serena glanced at Saintess Christina.

“For now, I’ve finished the treatment I can do. However… she will need the help of a proper healer. Divine magic is, in many ways, incompatible with my healing magic.”

Serena closed her mouth tightly.

I looked at her, who seemed depressed, and asked carefully.

“More importantly, what happened? Weren’t you attacked by Kabbalah? How on earth did you manage to get here?”

“That’s….”

Serena thought for a moment about whether she could tell the story.

That’s because Christina, not herself, is the one responsible for the Church here.

‘No, it’s absurd to hesitate after receiving this much grace.’

Her hesitation didn’t last long.

Serena calmly began to speak.

The current situation of Kabbalah.

The clash between Behemoth and Kabbalah.

The leader-like figure of Behemoth, called the Human-Faced Lord….

Serena explained the situation she had heard and seen in as much detail as possible.

‘The two forces clashed?’

Why?

They had been working together until now.

That was the case in the Church terror incident, and in the unexplored lands of Northern Europe, the Black Knights, or the Undead, emerged as a collaboration between Kabbalah and Behemoth.

‘Those words about the remains and crossing the line… Could it be that they had been in a cooperative relationship all along, but now there’s friction?’

I organized the information about the two organizations in my head.

Kabbalah’s goal is one.

To become a god.

They said that the master of Kabbalah, called the Great Teacher, would become some transcendent being.

The means for that was the Primordial Beast, and the Undead emerged in the middle of that process.

Kabbalah itself exists for that purpose, and that Great Teacher guy was brainwashing or manipulating all the people of Kabbalah to treat them like his limbs.

Conversely, Behemoth is a little different.

They worship the Primordial Beast.

It is a cult that believes that the beast that only brings destruction will give them true freedom.

Their purpose was still unclear.

But what was certain was that, unlike Kabbalah, which sees the Primordial Beast as a ‘means,’ Behemoth sees it as a ‘goal.’

‘I’m not sure. They may have just shown me such a performance.’

If the two forces really split up, there would be no better news.

However, if it was a trap, the situation would become even more complicated.

That meant that the connection between the two organizations was so strong that they could stage such a situation.

“I need to check.”

I muttered and said that.

“What do you mean?”

“Kabbalah, Behemoth. I need to find out what happened to those guys.”

I said that, my eyes shining.

It was then.

“…Lee Cheol Young Master.”

A low, sunken voice.

Saintess Christina, who had been unconscious for half a day, woke up.

* * *

Saintess Christina was ashamed of herself.

No matter how much it was to protect her subordinates, the fact that she, who had reached the realm of a 1st Class knight, had to lie here like baggage.

That was the case in the Church, and it was the case this time as well.

Saintess Christina had to keep receiving help from a young man named Lee Cheol.

“…Lee Cheol Young Master.”

As soon as she woke up, Saintess Christina called for Lee Cheol.

A young man with clear eyes, Lee Cheol, turned his head politely.

“Have you woken up?”

“I have something to say. Serena, would you excuse us for a moment?”

Her proud disciple hesitated for a moment, but soon bowed her head and stepped out of the tent.

Christina reached out and raised her magical power.

An opaque magical power surrounded the area.

It was a magical technique to prevent sound from leaking out.

Saintess Christina stared straight at Lee Cheol.

“I’m only showing you unsightly things, Lee Cheol Young Master.”

“It’s alright. Kabbalah’s power is inherently bizarre, so it’s not easy to deal with.”

It was a voice filled with sincerity.

In fact, that was also true.

A unit made up of the Undead.

Each of those forces has reached the 3rd Class level.

Moreover, the opponent was the strongest of the Western magic world.

But even so, those were just excuses.

As one who bears the weight of the name of the Church’s sword, defeat in any situation cannot be tolerated.

“It was an unexpected attack. They rushed in while I was taking a break. From the beginning, they targeted not me but my subordinates. It must have been because they guessed that I would block them from harming my subordinates.”

“…I see.”

Michael Garrell.

A person who shows a very different appearance from what is known to the outside world.

“In any case, the fact is that I was defeated. I know my body condition well. I will no longer be able to use my strength in this castle.”

Her internal injuries were severe.

The same goes for external injuries.

“So, there is one thing I would like to ask of you.”

Saintess Christina looked straight at Lee Cheol.

To him, who was sending eyes as if concentrating on himself, she conveyed the words of prophecy given by another saintess in the Church.

-The one who dominates the castle will plunge the world into the abyss of death.

-That castle will be the beginning of the apocalypse.

As soon as she heard the prophecy, she could see Lee Cheol’s expression hardening.

Indeed, no matter how much Lee Cheol was, it would be difficult to manage his expression with this ominous prophecy.

“The Church came to the castle to prevent that. It was because we thought it would be better for the home country to occupy the castle than to have it taken away by forces such as Behemoth, Kabbalah, or the Nine Dragons Association.”

But now that has become difficult.

Serena is strong, but she was still an insufficient child who could not even handle Lee Cheol sitting in front of her right now.

“So, I beg you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I will have to give up the trial and go outside. If I stay here any longer, I will only be a burden. So please, prevent the prophecy from coming true, stop those evil heretics, and take the castle. I believe in you, Lee Cheol Young Master.”

At those words, Lee Cheol seemed to hesitate for a moment.

But the hesitation was short.

His unique yellow eyes shone with a clear light that was as upright as could be.

“I was going to do that even if you didn’t ask me to.”

“Hehe… Thank you. Lee Cheol Young Master. Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

With those words, Christina relaxed her body.

She felt a deep sleep coming.

-Will you give up the trial?

A dwarf’s voice was heard in her head.

Saintess Christina nodded.

At that moment, Saintess Christina’s body turned into a cloud of light and began to scatter.

“Master!”