Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 297

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Chapter 297

The 1st Apostle and the 2nd Apostle shared a dream.

It was their dream, and also the ideal that Behemoth ultimately pursued.

Humans are flawed beings.

‘We’ ruin the world.

Look at the world.

We throw away trash, knowing that the seas and mountains are rotting.

We pity the lives of chickens and pigs being slaughtered like machines in factories, yet we satisfy our appetites, staining our mouths with blood every day.

We risk our lives for the illusion of money, a mere scrap of fabric, and for values created by humans, such as ideology and politics.

And then we fight among ourselves.

Over what is right.

We do what we shouldn’t, even though we rationally understand it. Because we cannot overcome our instincts.

We don’t do what we should, even though we rationally know it.

Humans. What contradictory and futile creatures.

‘Filthy, cursed, flawed, inferior… our human lives.’

The 1st Apostle gritted his teeth.

His jaw and teeth ached because he clenched them so hard.

So, Behemoth dreamed of equality.

Animals, plants, humans….

A world where each lives in harmony.

He existed in all of that.

The being who would dye this world in the same black color.

‘Now, only the last puzzle piece remains.’

The 2nd Apostle thought, echoing the 1st Apostle’s thoughts.

All plans have reached their final stage.

Despite the Adversary Lee Tae-shin’s interference, all preparations have been completed in the outside world, and the aerial fortress has finally succeeded in finding the ‘path’ to the Blue Hole [a mysterious and dangerous location].

Now, only the last puzzle piece, Lee Cheol-man, remains.

If only he had what that guy possesses, the great work would be completed.

It would have been.

It was a pity. Knowing that death in the aerial fortress wasn’t true death, and even if they died, the Faceless Ghoul of the ‘next generation’ would take over, it was still a pity that they couldn’t acquire the last puzzle piece from Lee Cheol.

“Foolish. A bastard who doesn’t even know his origin. A being who deserves to die as soon as he is born. Do you even know how your life was given to you?”

Just before their heads were cut off, the 1st and 2nd Apostles simultaneously uttered those words, looking at the approaching Black Night [Lee Cheol’s sword] right in front of them.

Hesitation!

Lee Cheol hesitated for a moment.

But it was only for a moment, and Black Night was swung.

Slash!

Nothing remained where Black Night passed.

Not a pile of dirt, not magic power, not even a speck of dust.

The place where the sword light touched disappeared cleanly.

Thud!

The apostles’ heads, falling, rolled across the ground.

Even though their heads were cut off, their eyes were still clearly directed at Lee Cheol.

“This moment will be the end….”

“Don’t forget… once the gears start turning, no one can stop them….”

“Since causality has been determined….”

“No matter how hard the Adversary tries to stop it, no matter how much you interfere, the era will come.”

“He… will descend.”

The two apostles slowly began to scatter, leaving behind particles of light.

The 1st and 2nd Apostles couldn’t just step back like this.

At least, they wanted to leave a scar on this bizarre and cursed life.

“A final gift. Cursed descendant.”

Instantly.

The bodies of the two apostles, which had begun to scatter, began to swell like balloons.

Boom!

And a black wave burst out from them.

Lee Cheol might be okay from this wave.

But what about the colleagues behind him?

The two apostles thought about that and suddenly felt a thrill wriggling deep in their hearts.

But.

“Pathetic.”

Lee Cheol’s sword was swung.

The moment Black Night was drawn greatly horizontally, the black wave that was bursting out crumbled powerlessly and dissipated.

It wasn’t aura, sword energy, or magic power….

It was Black Night’s unique, ominous power.

Poof!

Lee Cheol’s Black Night, which cut off even all those currents, shattered the apostles’ severed heads as they were.

‘Even this….’

All their intentions were blocked.

The two apostles felt a distant darkness and were kicked out of the aerial fortress.

* * *

I frowned after cutting off the heads of the two apostles.

Throb!

A large amount of magic power began to leak from my right hand holding Black Night.

As if it wasn’t enough, it began to distort not only my magic power but also the surrounding air.

Kiiiiing!

Now, it was vibrating, emitting an almost tearing sword cry.

A burning sensation, as if it was on fire, was felt.

The pain continued from the fingers to the wrist, and from the wrist to the forearm again.

‘I mustn’t let go.’

I chose to focus and grip Black Night even more strongly rather than letting it go.

Magic power is being drained, but that’s not even the main issue.

Rather, a strong intuition flashed through my mind that I should not let go of Black Night like this.

Even if I put it in the scabbard, I had to control this rampaging sword and sheathe it.

‘Stay still.’

Only after some time had passed while gripping it, did Black Night’s momentum begin to subside with a kiiii… sound.

Swish!

Only then did I force my aching arm to move and push Black Night into the scabbard that Sub Elder had gifted me.

There are still two seals left, but this sword’s power has already grown this much.

‘It doesn’t matter. I just need to control it.’

It’s just a sword after all.

Black Night is getting stronger day by day, but it’s just a matter of developing the ability to control it.

More than that, right now.

“…You came looking for me first without fear.”

I gathered black energy to create a sword and aimed it straight ahead.

The apostles were killed, but not everything was over yet.

A man was standing on the edge of the cliff above the uplifted ground, about a hundred meters away.

Archmage, Michael Garrel.

He, who had intervened at a critical moment during the battle with the apostles, was standing there alone.

“To be precise, it was you who intervened. Rather than coming first, wouldn’t it be more accurate to say I returned?”

The fallen old wizard continued with a relaxed smile.

The distance between them was quite far for his low voice to reach, but neither Michael nor I were people who were bound by distance.

“You talk a lot for someone who has retreated. It’s a good thing, as I can also weaken Cabala’s power with this opportunity.”

“Don’t be so harsh. We are not yet….”

The moment the muttering voice was about to continue.

I didn’t even listen to all of those words and swung my sword first.

Mujin First Form, Exorcism [a powerful sword technique].

The front was dyed with black sword light in a blow that struck from above.

Kwaarrrrr!

A roar like lightning struck was heard, but I had to narrow my eyes.

‘He pulled his body away just before the direct hit.’

Then, what if I used an attack that was so wide that he couldn’t avoid it?

I drew Gyeongcheon [another one of Lee Cheol’s swords].

Sizzle!

A flow of powerful aura like lightning poured out from Gyeongcheon.

The magic power in the atmosphere was fluctuating just by injecting magic power.

Looking at me like that, Michael, who had come closer, tilted his head.

“Why are you so hostile to us? Didn’t I help you?”

“Do you think I would have needed that help?”

“Hehe, but it’s also true that it was helpful. Ah, don’t misunderstand. I don’t intend to fight you ‘now’. This is not a suitable place to fight you.”

Michael Garrel smiled and turned his head.

At the same time, I felt the presence of those who sensed the aftermath of the battle approaching from afar.

‘They’ve started to react.’

Whether it was the Nine Dragons [a powerful organization], the Dawn Society [another organization], or the main force of the main family, they couldn’t have stayed still after feeling the aftermath of this battle.

Michael realized that I had sensed them and smiled brightly.

“If we confront each other like this, quite a troublesome thing will happen. So, I’ll say it again. I have no intention of fighting you. It’s not about a permanent truce either. I’m just saying let’s have a conversation for a while.”

Michael spread his arms wide as if he was sincere and smiled with a friendly face.

I didn’t even like that smile.

“I’ll just take one thing and step back. The remaining cultists of Behemoth who are being massacred over there right now. I’ll take a few tens of thousands of those survivors. Aren’t they unnecessary for you anyway?”

At Michael’s words, I glanced around.

The cultists of Behemoth, who were unable to receive the supply of black energy after the death of the two apostles, were noticeably weakened.

They were being cut down relentlessly by Fourth Brother, Serena, and Choi In-ha.

“…I see. So you came back to target those things?”

“That’s right. I don’t need anything else. I’ll just take a few of them. In return, I’ll give you one truth…”

Tung! Thud, thud, thud!

At that moment, I unleashed black energy and deployed the Celestial Net [a technique using a network of energy to ensnare or attack] once more in the air.

With the sound of tearing air, hundreds of weapons swirled greatly, heading towards all the Behemoth forces on the ground.

The weapons, freely flying in the air, did not miss a single fleeing Behemoth soldier, pursuing and killing them.

Explosions and shockwaves rippled through the battlefield, which had been in a lull since the death of the apostles.

My hair and Eun-han fluttered in the raging gale.

“……!”

Michael’s expression twisted.

“Oh dear. Looks like I’ll be taking corpses. Ah, but I suppose there won’t even be corpses left here?”

I smirked as I looked at Michael.

Michael couldn’t properly manage his expression at my mockery.

He clicked his tongue and opened his mouth.

“Did you have to go this far? This was a deal.”

“A deal is something you do with someone of equal standing. How dare a lowly heretic like you.”

“Haha……”

Michael was smiling, but his eyes were not.

“You are similar to that Lee Gun-seong, yet different. You still have a romantic side.”

“Are you now openly admitting that you’re in league with him?”

Michael scoffed.

The wrinkles around his mouth deepened.

“By the time this test is over, hiding such things will be meaningless.”

Michael turned his body.

His business here was finished, so there was no need for further meaningless conversation.

“I’ll be looking forward to the day I fight you. Please, don’t fail the test. I’m really… looking forward to it.”

“Who said I’d let you go?”

Pajijik!

I still held the fully charged Gyeongcheon [MC’s special sword] in my hand.

I gripped Gyeongcheon tightly and pulled it back, preparing to strike.

At that moment.

Tadak!

Behind Michael, who had turned his back and started to cast flight magic, a person landed.

Immediately after, an enormous number of defensive magic spells overlapped behind Michael, filling the air.

I read the formulas constructing those magic spells with my Mystic Eyes [ability to perceive magic].

A magic that excluded all other functions and focused only on channeling magic power.

It was as if it was a defensive magic developed to block my Gyeongcheon.

‘It doesn’t matter. I just need to sweep them away all at once.’

I adjusted the magic power of Gyeongcheon.

I focused my mind and imbued it with my mental image.

Mind Sword, Formless.

Magic that requires intricate formula construction is nothing more than prey for my Mind Sword.

Just as I was about to throw the Gyeongcheon I was holding.

Hwaaack!

The hem of a robe fluttered in the blowing wind.

The face of the robed figure was revealed, and my eyes widened in an instant.

The one who cast the defensive magic.

He, no, she was someone I knew.

“……Valerie?”

Valerie de Bell.

A friend and colleague I had built a relationship with since my days in Musaeng [MC’s previous organization].

Her Mystic Eyes dripped with magical light as she stared directly at me.

Even though our eyes met, she didn’t say anything. Not only was there no response, but there was also no change in her expression.

She stared straight at me with her hazy pupils, standing tall and guarding Michael’s back.

Peong!

In the brief moment I hesitated, Michael’s body soared rapidly into the air.

Even Valerie, who had been guarding his back for a brief moment, kicked off the ground without hesitation and jumped up.

* * *

Immediately after they left.

And around the time when all the remaining Behemoth cultists met their deaths.

“Maknae!”

“Lee Chul.”

“Young Master!”

Fourth Brother, Serena, and Choi In-ha approached me.

I scattered the Gyeongcheon I was holding.

Fourth Brother looked at me in bewilderment.

“Maknae. Did I just see what I think I saw?”

Fourth Brother had faced Valerie during the mission in the unexplored Ba-1 area of the North.

He knew that we were close, so it was natural for him to be bewildered.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Really? That person? You, you saw it clearly with those eyes?”

“Yes, I saw it clearly with my Mystic Eyes. It’s Valerie.”

My Mystic Eyes can accurately pinpoint such things without error.

To my eyes, she clearly appeared as Valerie.

It was neither a doll nor a disguise.

The unique magical light of the Mystic Eyes was definitely Valerie’s, and the characteristics of the magic she cast were also hers.

“It was surprising enough that the Eiffel Magic Tower was a Kabbalah [a mystical interpretation of the Hebrew Bible] stooge, but to think that even Valerie betrayed us… No, was she originally affiliated with Kabbalah from the start? She was originally a disciple of the Magic Tower Lord, wasn’t she?”

Fourth Brother let out a hollow laugh.

“Was that seemingly spacey demeanor all an act… I can’t live in this scary world.”

“No. That’s probably not the case.”

I narrowed my eyes and stared at the place where Valerie had appeared.

Valerie had stared at me from there, deploying defensive magic to protect Michael.

With her bare hands, no less.

‘She’s such a chain smoker that she uses a water pipe as a staff for magic manifestation….’

I recalled Valerie’s condition as reflected in my Mystic Eyes.

There was not even a hint of cigarette smoke on her.

There was also no scent of that unique roll-up she used to smoke, claiming it was herbal.

Moreover, I felt an awkwardness in the flow of magic power within her body.

“Lee Chul. I apologize for interrupting during this confusing time, but I think we should leave soon. If we encounter enemy forces here in this state, a battle could break out.”

Serena spoke at a good time.

I nodded.

“Yes, let’s go. The main force will also be waiting. We’re later than expected, so let’s hurry.”

With those words, we immediately concealed ourselves again and quickly left the area.

* * *

We were maintaining stealth and moving quickly.

Fourth Brother cautiously approached me and spoke.

-Maknae.

Fourth Brother carefully sent his voice to me on magic power so that those around us could not hear.

-What is it?

-It’s because of what happened earlier. Perhaps……

Fourth Brother’s words trailed off.

I spoke to Fourth Brother, who was hesitating.

-Is it because of First Brother?

At my words, Fourth Brother looked surprised for a moment and soon nodded.

I could understand what Fourth Brother was worried about.

First Brother was also someone who had studied magic at the Eiffel Magic Tower in his youth.

However, I shook my head.

-That’s probably not the case either. I can’t explain it, but I’ve already faced First Brother several times with my Mystic Eyes, and I’ve already checked him once.

Not only First Brother, but after facing the puppeteer, I had checked all the family members in preparation for any possible event.

Recalling First Brother’s defeat in my past life, I had also suspected whether it was due to the intervention of Kabbalah or Behemoth.

However, not even the slightest speck was found on First Brother.

Whether he couldn’t or didn’t, First Brother is clean from them.

-But your Mystic Eyes aren’t omnipotent, are they?

-They’re not omnipotent, but at least they can capture everything about the phenomena unfolding before my eyes.

In the first place, if there had been such a change in First Brother, who had returned after studying at the Magic Tower… there was no way that Chief Choi, who possessed the power of the Choi family, or Father, who had reached a high level of attainment, would not have noticed.

-The reason I’m sure is not just because of my Mystic Eyes. I’m sorry that I can’t explain it in detail. But First Brother is safe from them, at least.

I couldn’t explain it in detail, even to Fourth Brother’s bewildered voice.

Because it was information obtained from the Aerial Fortress [a hidden base or location].

No matter how bizarre the Kabbalah’s Great Master is and how freely he uses his powers, he would not have been able to invade the direct bloodline of Soongmu [MC’s family name and clan].

No, not just the Kabbalah’s Great Master, but anyone.

I learned that through the Second Test.

‘I see. So, this is where Maknae learned about that?’

Lee Hyun-jae guessed the situation from Lee Chul’s roundabout way of speaking.

The fact that he couldn’t explain it properly meant that it was likely information he had learned through the dwarves of the Aerial Fortress or through that test.

‘But, if so… then what is it?’

Lee Hyun-jae quietly stared at Lee Chul’s back.

He had also experienced things while undergoing the test.

He saw the future in the test.

It was uncertain whether that future was just an illusion or something that would really happen.

However, in that scene, Lee Hyun-jae saw Lee Chul exchanging swords with First Brother.

In that scene, Lee Myung-jung was… not the Lee Myung-jung he knew.

‘Was it just an illusion?’

But.

The strange sense of unease that remained in his head did not disappear.