Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 294

After escorting Saintess Christina, I summoned my twin brothers and the Caretaker.

I needed to share my thoughts on the stories and information I had heard.

“Little bro, we’re here!”

“What did you hear from the Saintess? What happened?”

“Yeah, kid. What’s up?”

After the three of them arrived, I calmly began to explain.

It was about what the Theocracy had experienced.

The battle between Kabbalah and Behemoth, and the true intentions of the Dawn Society.

“Hmph, those humans. Why do they make life so difficult?”

The Caretaker snorted dismissively.

“Well, your kind’s love for fighting is pretty strange too. Hehe, simpletons. That’s why I like you, though.”

The Caretaker chuckled softly.

To him, who had lived for thousands of years, Behemoth and Kabbalah were just another group of crazy people pushing their own brand of nonsense, like so many others throughout history.

The same went for the Dawn Society.

It was never the evildoers with malicious ideologies who caused harm to the world, but rather the narrow-minded individuals who believed their own ideologies were right.

On the other hand, Soongmoo is simple and straightforward.

A hegemonic group dreaming of ruling.

Their goal is simple and firm, even refreshing.

“Simple, you say… Perhaps the main family isn’t much different from them.”

I muttered those words quietly.

The abyss of the main family that I learned about with my second sister.

Soongmoo, which has been rooted in this land for generations… perhaps they weren’t much different from them either.

“Huh? What did you say just now?”

“It’s nothing.”

Then, my fourth brother suddenly spoke up.

“But little bro, isn’t it possible that it was all a performance to deceive us, as you said?”

“No, Hyunjae. Behemoth attacked the alliance leader’s office, didn’t they?”

“What if that was also part of the plan?”

My two brothers pointed that out, and I nodded.

“They may have really split, or they may not have. Either way, it’s significant. We need to confirm it.”

Then, Serena quietly opened her mouth.

“Then, Lee Cheol. What are you planning to do? Their split is important information, but shouldn’t we prioritize dealing with the test first, from Soongmoo’s perspective?”

She was right.

The split between Behemoth and Kabbalah was important information, but the biggest goal right now was to successfully complete this test.

‘I have a duty to help Lee Cheol as a member of the Theocracy.’

For the sake of the grace I received, and to see the end of the prophecy that came down to the Theocracy.

“Yes, you’re right. The test is the most important thing after all. That’s why we need to understand the actual situation of the two organizations even more.”

I turned back to the Caretaker.

“Caretaker, didn’t you say you went to the outskirts this time?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I did.”

“How far has the encroaching poison mist come?”

There is a time limit to this test site.

The presence of the poison mist, which is constantly narrowing towards the center, forces the examinees to fight each other.

“Hmm… It’ll be here by lunchtime tomorrow. It’ll take about three days to completely engulf everything.”

If so, we had to calculate that we only had about two days left, considering any possible variables.

‘Then, in fact, the real fight will begin tomorrow.’

A battle to seize the guardian spirit and secure the key.

Kabbalah, Behemoth, and the Dawn Society.

Although I haven’t seen them, the Nine Dragons Gang must be the same.

“What are you going to do?”

“What are you planning to do?”

My twin brothers asked me at the same time.

With my second sister gone, the direction of the main family is determined by my words.

Moreover, the Theocracy, which had formed an alliance, had also transferred command to me through Saintess Christina.

My twin brothers, Serena, and the Caretaker.

Four people were quietly watching me.

“Let’s confirm it. What those two bastards are thinking.”

A strange light flickered in the eyes of those present.

That meant that they would check the information about the two organizations first.

“I’ll move out tomorrow. Please take good care of the troops.”

I said that and ended the meeting.

* * *

After my twin brothers went outside, and Serena went to meet the Theocracy troops who were recovering from their injuries.

I called out to the Caretaker.

“Caretaker, can you spare some time? You don’t have anything to do anyway, do you?”

“What?! Nothing to do? Who do you think made these buildings and walls?”

“With your skills, Caretaker, isn’t it just a bit of fun?”

“Hmm, well, that’s true. You know me well.”

Suddenly, the Caretaker tilted his head.

Why did he feel like he had been dragged into something?

“Anyway, please spare some time.”

“Alright, alright. Then, shall we have a drink first?”

The Caretaker grinned and waved his hand in the air.

The empty air split open, and two bottles of makgeolli [Korean rice wine] fell out.

To think he brought alcohol all the way here.

While I was feeling a bit dumbfounded, the Caretaker threw a bottle at me.

“…Well, I think I know what you’re going to talk about.”

“Yes?”

Cheee!

As I opened the bottle, the savory scent of makgeolli spread out.

The Caretaker didn’t pour it into a glass, but drank straight from the bottle and continued.

“If you’re talking to me like this, it’s obvious. It’s about the guardian spirit and those under it, isn’t it?”

“You… knew?”

The Caretaker tilted the bottle again and snorted.

The Caretaker wasn’t blind.

There was no way he wouldn’t know what kind of energy the beings in this place possessed.

It wasn’t difficult for him to guess how they had evolved or degenerated in their own ways over the ages, and what forms they had taken.

“Well, it was a bit shocking. But that’s all it is.”

“What do you mean by ‘that’s all it is’?”

“Aren’t you humans descended from monkeys? It’s all the same. What does it matter now?”

Is that… how it is?

In any case, the Caretaker didn’t seem to think much of it.

I was more embarrassed by the Caretaker’s reaction.

The Caretaker chuckled and continued.

“I’ve learned something like a truth after living for thousands of years.”

“A truth?”

The Caretaker nodded.

“Cause, starting point, past… Humans always try to care about such things. Why did that happen? Why, why? Such questions.”

I looked up at the sky.

The moon is bright.

A few passing clouds, filled with moonlight, scattered moonlight on the ground.

“It’s not that I don’t understand. Humans live for only about 100 years at most. Humans who have reached a high level can easily live for about 200 years, but even that is only a fleeting moment. They are a race that can’t help but be bound by the past.”

But when you look at the entire long history.

What has already passed is just a past event, a wave that has inevitably passed.

The different races who live for generations know that.

“That’s important. You can avoid repeating the same mistakes. But you can’t be bound by it. The important thing is the present. If you know ‘why’ or ‘why,’ you shouldn’t be pathetic about it, but think about ‘how’.”

I listened to the Caretaker’s words and pondered.

A free spirit who had his soul mortgaged due to the recklessness of his youth, bound to the mountain and living for generations.

The enlightenment that came to his life would have been like that.

‘Don’t be bound by the past.’

That was a truth I already knew.

After returning, I vowed not to be bound by my past life.

But after entering this place, I had to face countless past events and think deeply.

‘The abyss of Soongmoo, the secret history related to the founder… it’s all just what happened. It’s just the past.’

I took a long breath.

That’s right. It’s a past event.

The important thing is what to do in the future.

I chuckled and said.

“You’re like an adult when you’re being weird. You’re always like a drunkard.”

“What? What? You impudent bastard! Back in my day…!”

“Anyway, thank you. Caretaker.”

I was going to try to pay attention, but I was taught instead.

I’m glad the Caretaker is on my side.

I felt relieved.

As always, like me.

Just move forward.

I ignored the Caretaker, who was raising his voice loudly, and thought so.

* * *

In the dark forest, two figures with extremely strange appearances sat facing each other, looking down at a man.

They were the three apostles leading Behemoth.

“How is the Third Apostle?”

“He was attacked. He won’t be able to move for a while….”

“To be defeated by a blind old man, a foolish magician… is he trying to ruin the great cause?”

“We shouldn’t have trusted those who were dreaming of vain dreams in the first place.”

This morning.

The Third Apostle led Behemoth’s forces and clashed with Michael Garrell.

The result is this. The Third Apostle was not killed, but the damage was great.

“I expected him to break the contract. What we promised them was only the shell of that being.”

“The old man, blinded by greed, could not be satisfied with the shell.”

Behemoth wanted to achieve the great cause through Kabbalah’s knowledge, and Kabbalah wanted to use the heterogeneous power of Behemoth.

However, they could not tolerate defiling the god they served, so Behemoth only allowed the shell when contracting with Kabbalah.

The shell of the primordial beast, that is, the extinction-level monsters.

However, the great master of Kabbalah was greedy.

That was an unacceptable act for Behemoth.

“He will know the state of the Third Apostle, so he may come to attack us soon. Its purpose is the remains of the god we have….”

Those foolish beings who mistakenly believe that they have grasped the truth of the world truly harbor misguided desires.

To be liberated from the human body and become a being beyond humans.

That is the purpose of the one who leads Kabbalah.

“Does he not know that true liberation is only possible by taking off the human mask… that is, by accepting their god?”

“He knows half of it, so he is aiming for the remains of the god as a means to that end.”

Behemoth is those who have accepted them into their own bodies.

From Kabbalah’s point of view, we, who possess that piece of their purpose, will be the target of the hunt.

“An arrogant being.”

“A foolish being.”

The First and Second Apostles muttered alternately.

To think that they are hunting, even though they are only possessed bodies, not the main body.

“Unacceptable.”

“He is also just a pitiful being who does not know the truth of the world… a dragon’s mask would suit him.”

Hehe.

Laughter was embedded in their emotionless voices.

“Tomorrow, we will lead the race of those foolish old men to true freedom….”

The apostles muttered such words quietly.

And in an instant, the First Apostle reached out to the fallen Third Apostle.

“For the great cause.”

“For the great cause.”

The hands of the First and Second Apostles reached out to the Third Apostle.

Crack! Crunch!

A strange sound of flesh and blood being torn apart.

The figure of the Third Apostle, who could no longer move, disappeared from that spot.

The First and Second Apostles looked up at the distant night sky with strange gleams in their eyes.

* * *

The next day, at dawn.

While the world was still shrouded in pitch-black darkness because the sun had not yet risen, I began to move.

I used the Evil Eye to track down the lingering traces of black energy.

No, in fact, there was no need to use the Evil Eye.

Before I had approached very closely, I had heard explosions echoing in the distance.

“Lee Cheol.”

Serena called me in a low voice.

I nodded.

‘Straight ahead, they’re fighting.’

The erupting magical energies.

That heterogeneous magical energy is clearly not a battle between ordinary people.

Behemoth, Kabbalah.

It was clear that they were fighting.

Kwaaaang!

Flames soared, filling the still dark sky.

Unless you’re a first-class magician, how can you create such flames?

‘They’re really fighting.’

But I had to make sure.

I turned my head.

There were a total of three troops following me.

My fourth brother, Serena, and Choi Inha from Class 5 of the Cadet Corps.

The rest remained at the main family.

Since we were only confirming the split between the two organizations, we divided the troops.

“I will deploy stealth. Do not reject the magical energy, everyone.”

I created black energy.

The sacred-grade helmet, Quienne.

It wasn’t the helmet from the myth of the same name.

It was just a replica made after it.

But the ability is similar to the original.

It hides magical energy, hides sound, and hides light.

Through Kyungcheon’s magical energy control ability, Quienne’s effect was imbued into the bodies of the four of us, including me.

This made our stealth even more certain.

We were able to identify the enemies more closely and accurately.

-Kieeeeeek!

-Kyaaaaak!

“Human, hu, man. Why can’t the foolish ones forget the call and sing….”

“Ah, ah, ah.”

Bang! Kwarrrr!

And soon, we were able to confirm the clash between Behemoth and Kabbalah.

It was truly a chaotic battlefield that was enough to confuse the mind.

Behemoth’s cultists were rushing in, spewing out strange cries and disjointed languages, and Kabbalah’s immortals were wielding their respective weapons to face them.

Michael Garrell’s magic was erupting from time to time, and in between, people from Behemoth’s side who were not wearing masks were deploying magical energy.

‘Is that the apostle of Behemoth?’

Human-faced beasts. Saintess Christina clearly said that.

‘Are those who wear the masks of monsters… wearing the masks of humans?’

That alone made me feel a sense of revulsion deep within my stomach.

‘It’s disgusting.’

I watched the immortals with the unique appearance of Soongmoo’s bloodlines facing the Behemoth forces with a mixture of monsters.

Both of them were disgusting.

Kabbalah or Behemoth.

I could be sure that they could not coexist under one sky.

‘But that’s beside the point.’

I looked at the two apostles of Behemoth who were facing Michael’s magic.

…It’s dangerous. That was the feeling I felt.

It was a different kind of power than any other power I had ever seen.

Magic, sorcery… or perhaps aura.

And even the unique power of monsters.

Their power is a mixture of all of that.

A monster using human power.

That expression was the most fitting.

“Foolish one… Don’t you know that we are the closest to the will of God? The power you wield is just a copy.”

In an instant, the man with the pale white skin exuded energy.

That energy was very similar to Michael’s.

Black energy.

Energy that contaminates everything it touches.

The moment the monsters of Behemoth touched that energy, they began to emit even more powerful power and burst out with grotesque cries.

Immediately after, the apostle began to exert his power in earnest.

Kwaaaang!

The fist he swung in the air was imbued with the twisted magical energy unique to monsters.

The color of that magical energy was an indescribable dark color mixed with purple, black, and brown.

A power that was too chaotic to be called aura.

But that power was imbued with too much power.

The bodies of the immortals who came into contact with that energy developed blisters or were twisted as if they had been exposed to radiation, and turned blue as if they had encountered poison.

It’s a fight between different types of beings.

It was too different from the fights we had normally seen and experienced.

‘Rather… Michael Garrell looks more normal.’

He was using a familiar power, even if it was twisted magic.

Throb!

Eventually, Kabbalah’s forces were pushed back by that grotesque power and began to show signs of defeat little by little.

Before long, they will retreat.

Michael had a frustrated expression, but he seemed to have no way to deal with the two apostles’ joint attack.

“Lee Cheol.”

“Little bro.”

Serena and my fourth brother called me.

“I’m sure of it. They’re fighting so hard that it can’t be a performance.”

“To think they were fighting like this. Thanks to you, we got information without much risk.”

I nodded at those words and continued to look straight ahead.

-Kieeeek!

The monsters of Behemoth, who had finished transforming into monsters, were spewing out cries.

Eventually, Kabbalah’s forces began to slowly retreat.

“Little bro.”

My fourth brother suddenly called me in a trembling voice.

“Let’s get out of here. We’ve seen everything now, right?”

“….”

I was still looking ahead.

“Young master. Don’t tell me….”

Choi Inha, who had followed me, swallowed hard and looked at my profile.

Only then did I take my eyes off the front and turn to look at the three of them.

“Now that I see it, those things seem more dangerous than I thought.”

“T, that’s right?”

The apostles of Behemoth.

The power they wielded was full of an ominousness that I couldn’t even understand.

I nodded and stood up from my seat.

Kwaaaak!

At that moment, black energy spread out, filling the air.

“So I changed my mind. I was just going to check and leave….”

I released all the magical energy I had been hiding.

The power of the stealth I had been maintaining was completely broken.

“I’m going to kill those things today.”