Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 298

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 298

Soongmoo Lee Ga, the Hall of Judgment.

The main duties of the Hall of Judgment are investigating lawbreakers and enforcing the family rules.

In the basement of the Hall of Judgment’s annex, there exists a prison.

It’s different from ordinary prisons.

It is a space filled with special devices to restrain those who have learned magic or trained in martial arts and spells.

In fact, there are not many people imprisoned in the underground jail.

If one committed a crime worthy of entering the prison, they would have already been beheaded.

However, for the first time in a long time, a direct descendant was imprisoned in the underground jail this time.

Military Sword Lee Goon-sung.

He was charged with attacking the Family Head, attacking Chief Secretary Choi, acting as a traitor, and colluding with the enemy… along with eleven other charges.

Clang-.

Was he unconscious, or had he fallen asleep?

Lee Goon-sung slowly opened his eyelids at the sound of chains from his hands and feet.

His limbs were bound and fixed to the wall, and his magical power was forcibly extracted, leaving him in a wretched state.

Soon, Lee Goon-sung realized that the reason he woke up was not because of the sound of the chains.

He sensed the presence of someone other than himself in this damp and gloomy space.

Lee Goon-sung greeted him with a smile.

“Have you come, Brother.”

“…….”

Soongmoo Lee Ga’s Family Head proxy, Lee Myung-jung, stood there.

Lee Myung-jung did not answer and was silently staring at Lee Goon-sung in the darkness.

“You look very emaciated. Are you alright?”

As Lee Goon-sung said, Lee Myung-jung’s face did not look good to anyone.

His eyes were dull, and deep fatigue was cast around his eyes.

There was no shaking in his aura or posture, but his complexion was clearly not good.

No matter how frequent the all-nighters were due to the Aerial Fortress incident and the international situation, it was not normal for a martial artist of Lee Myung-jung’s caliber to look so exhausted.

Lee Myung-jung continued to stare at Lee Goon-sung for a while, then slowly opened his mouth in a subdued voice.

“What connection do you have with Father’s matter?”

“You speak as if there must be a connection.”

“Of course, there is a connection.”

Lee Myung-jung looked straight at Lee Goon-sung.

The darkness of the underground jail, where nothing could be seen an inch ahead, was no obstacle to these two.

Lee Myung-jung and Lee Goon-sung were looking straight at each other.

“I don’t know. As a son, I found it quite shocking.”

Lee Myung-jung clicked his tongue.

He knew, of course, that he wouldn’t tell.

“Then I’ll ask something else. Why did you return to the family?”

“Is there any reason why I can’t return to my home?”

“Your home… you’re telling quite a pure story.”

Lee Myung-jung gazed intently at Lee Goon-sung.

Immediately after Lee Goon-sung returned to the family, he was arrested.

In the meantime, Lee Goon-sung did not resist once.

‘I can’t understand what he’s thinking.’

His brother, as always, wore a meaningful expression and entered the underground jail on his own.

“Your crime has been clearly revealed by the youngest. An arrest warrant has been issued, are you saying you don’t know?”

“Has it been confirmed?”

“Does that matter?”

Lee Myung-jung said that, and saw his brother, who had widened his eyes as if surprised for a moment, smile again.

“Well, whether it’s true or not, it’s important that it’s become true. But whatever the crime, it shouldn’t have been enough to enter the underground jail.”

“You refused the summons of the Council of Elders without a valid reason. Refusal to be summoned during a state of emergency is grounds for immediate execution. Be grateful that you’ve spared your life.”

“I see. Thank you, Brother.”

Lee Goon-sung still had a smiling expression.

It did not suit the gloomy atmosphere of this underground jail at all.

Lee Myung-jung suddenly felt a headache coming on.

Lee Goon-sung’s figure, smiling and looking at him, this dim air, and the chaotic situation of the main family… everything was tightening around him.

“What on earth.”

Lee Myung-jung’s voice, low in the underground jail.

“What is your purpose?”

“Purpose… isn’t it obvious?”

For a moment, a faint heat seemed to flicker in his expression, which always hid his true feelings.

“One born as a direct descendant of Soongmoo Lee Ga. Anyone invariably looks only at one goal.”

Clang, Lee Goon-sung’s words continued with the sound of chains.

“The Family Head of the Great Soongmoo Lee Ga. I’m just dreaming of the throne in that high place.”

“Nonsense.”

Lee Myung-jung shook his head.

“You must have another purpose. Are you telling me to believe that you’re only dreaming of becoming the Family Head of the main family?”

“Another purpose… I could say that too.”

“You have colluded with foreign powers, committed immoral acts, turned a blind eye, and even brought chaos to the family.”

Lee Myung-jung’s voice turned cold.

“You are not fit to be the Family Head. What you have done is betrayal and parricide, not a struggle. You are not qualified to carry the name of Soongmoo Lee Ga.”

In an instant.

Lee Goon-sung’s head lifted.

Through his disheveled hair, Lee Goon-sung’s cold glint, which had never been seen before, was revealed.

“No one.”

“Should dare to discuss struggle in front of me.”

“Ha! Are you the one saying that?”

“Rather, there are things that are seen better because I was outside, not inside. Whether it’s you or Father, no one knows the meaning of the word Soongmoo (崇武) [숭무 – Reverence for martial arts] better than I do.”

Lee Myung-jung could tell that those words were Lee Goon-sung’s true feelings, which had not been revealed under the mask.

Lee Myung-jung was momentarily speechless at the pure spirit contained within, which felt almost upright.

Then suddenly, Lee Goon-sung let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“No, no. Just one person…”

Lee Goon-sung trailed off, as if recalling something.

“The youngest… that bastard, Lee Chul. Only that guy will understand it.”

Lee Goon-sung mentioned Lee Chul while talking about the true value of Soongmoo and the meaning of struggle.

Hidden in his words was a feeling like some kind of kinship.

“The youngest is different from you.”

He answered firmly, but Lee Myung-jung felt that his words were much lighter than the weight of Lee Goon-sung’s words.

“Maybe so.”

Lee Goon-sung laughed.

Lee Goon-sung’s subdued laughter echoed eerily under the dim space.

“I’ve quite disliked you since a long time ago, Brother.”

Lee Myung-jung’s eyes narrowed.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“You were born with everything. Ability, personality, talent, the expectations of the elders…”

Lee Goon-sung lifted his eyelids and looked at Lee Myung-jung.

Lee Goon-sung remembers his childhood.

The situation when everything was already decided when he was born.

In his childhood, when he should have been learning to struggle, learning to compete, and learning about victory, Lee Goon-sung had to feel an insurmountable wall.

“But now that I see…”

Lee Goon-sung’s eyes slowly lowered.

“…I can’t help but feel sorry for you, Brother.”

His idol, the wall to overcome, and his rival, his brother.

To think that the person who seemed so high… looks so pitiful.

To come all the way here and ask why he came back to the family.

“What on earth are you saying?”

Lee Myung-jung felt a rising sense of displeasure.

Every word of this inscrutable younger brother was touching his nerves.

“Why did you come here?”

“What?”

Why did he come here?

Of course, it was to grasp Lee Goon-sung’s true intentions.

Lee Myung-jung finished the meeting with the Council of Elders….

‘After that… how did I end up here?’

Throb!

Was it because he was too stressed?

Was it because he hadn’t been sleeping well lately?

Lee Myung-jung felt a headache as if someone was knocking on the inside of his head.

“How bitter, Brother.”

Lee Goon-sung’s voice makes the headache even stronger.

His heart was beating fast. He felt like his vision was spinning.

At the sudden change, Lee Myung-jung struggled to catch his breath and turned his body.

“Anyway, you have lost. I will not take your head until the youngest returns. Here, your crime…”

“Who.”

Lee Goon-sung suddenly cut off Lee Myung-jung’s words.

“Are you saying I lost?”

“Of course…”

At that time.

Clang!

A rough sound of chains was heard.

It was the sound of the chains that had been binding Lee Goon-sung’s left arm falling off.

‘The chains? How?’

It was a magical chain made of meteorite iron and Adamantium alloy, with decades of devotion.

Without the key, Lee Goon-sung should never have been able to unlock it in his current state.

But.

Clang!

The sound of metal was heard again.

This time it was his right arm.

Lee Goon-sung’s two arms, which had been fixed to the wall, were freed.

Clang!

After that, the sound was repeated twice.

Lee Goon-sung’s two legs, which had been tied up, were also released.

Lee Goon-sung landed lightly on the ground.

Lee Myung-jung, who had been watching the scene with confused eyes, suddenly realized that Lee Goon-sung’s finger was pointing at him.

Lee Myung-jung turned his head and looked down.

“……?”

What came into Lee Myung-jung’s eyes was a thick, crude key emitting a navy blue light.

That key was for unlocking the chains that had been binding Lee Goon-sung until just now.

‘Did I, unlock it?’

In the darkness, Lee Goon-sung’s yellow eyes were staring straight at him.

He could see his figure reflected in those pupils.

Tap, he heard Lee Goon-sung’s approaching footsteps.

He felt his brother’s ominous smile deepening.

Was that the mask Lee Goon-sung always wore, or was it a sincere smile?

“Thank you, Brother.”

With those words.

Lee Myung-jung felt his vision gradually narrowing.

Soon, his consciousness sank into the vast darkness.

* * *

After killing Behemoth, I joined the main force of the main family.

Mountain Keeper, Fifth Brother, and the surviving warriors of the main family were waiting, having finished their battle preparations.

“You’re late. Don’t tell me you had another skirmish?”

I smiled and looked at Mountain Keeper.

“Yes, I dropped off the masked guys.”

“Hehe, well done.”

Suddenly, Mountain Keeper looked into the distance.

Far away, beyond the horizon, black-stained fog was approaching within reach.

It was a faster approach than expected.

This black fog, approaching towards this place, became darker as it approached the center.

“There won’t be much time.”

I was thinking generously about three days, or two days if it was urgent, but it seemed like it would arrive right in front of the center in about half a day.

I would be fine, but not the main family’s forces.

I have to finish the test quickly.

“Kim Han, Kim Bo-sung. Report.”

I immediately called out the two who had been active since our days in the Cadet Corps.

Choi In-ha acted with me, but I had given separate orders to the other two.

“Yes, the Nine Dragons Unit has been confirmed. A total of 19 members. The Small Unit Leader survived. It seems they will hunt the local lord in the west.”

“The Russell Family is approaching the center from the north. It seems they will hunt the local lord in the north.”

The instructions given to Kim Han and Kim Bo-sung were to scout the two forces excluding the main family.

“Any special features?”

“Some scouts were discovered by the Small Unit Leader and suffered damage.”

“It was the same for me. I’m sorry. Two deaths, one injured.”

I nodded.

The loss of troops was somewhat regrettable, but I wasn’t worried since I knew that their deaths weren’t real deaths anyway.

‘Then the closest to us is the south. We have to hunt the local lord in the south.’

It’s quite close to Kabbalah’s camp.

But they won’t be able to approach us easily.

Even if they hunt to get the key, they will try to hunt the local lord in the east.

I nodded and looked at Fifth Brother.

Fifth Brother started talking as if he had been waiting.

“The local lord is about 2 kilometers away from here. Currently, some of the Twin Dragons Unit are tracking it. It is estimated to be about 15 minutes away from the stone gate in the center.”

Fifth Brother finished his report like that, paused for a moment, and continued.

“And the risk level… is estimated to be level 2 to level 3. And each of them leads dozens of troops. The guy we’re going to face is constantly increasing his troops.”

Having come to the fourth test, it was clear that there would be that level of threat.

I didn’t think it would be difficult.

I’m not complacent, but I’m full of confidence.

The current me, and the elites gathered here, are strong.

“Serena, I will entrust you with the command of the Church State. However, since the number of Church State troops is small, you must follow my instructions for the overall strategy.”

“Yes, Young Master Lee Chul. The story has already been settled. I look forward to working with you.”

The current status of each organization, the tracking of the target, and the understanding of the time limit.

All preparations were completed.

Soon, I turned to look at the remaining troops and opened my mouth.

“Soongmoo Lee Ga.”

Soongmoo Lee Ga’s troops, a total of 23 people.

The Church State’s troops, a total of 8 people.

A total of 31 troops were lined up in front of me.

“I will start the hunt now. Death here does not mean failure of the test, but it will not be connected to actual death. But, try to avoid the poisonous fog approaching from behind.”

Lee Chul’s short and concise instructions continued.

“The remaining forces besides the main family are the Nine Dragons Unit, the Russell Family, and the Eiffel Magic Tower. There is a possibility that they will bypass us and strike. I don’t care. If they attack us, subdue them and pass the test.”

He speaks lightly of the giant forces that move the world, as if they were third-rate neighborhood organizations.

Nevertheless, there was weight and power in his words.

Those eyes.

Without shaking, all the stellar talents in that gaze, filled with firm will, were being moved.

‘Kid… you’ve really grown up well.’

Mountain Keeper looked at Lee Chul with a strange smile.

He had seen many people with those eyes.

They left great traces even in the torrents of a rough era, and their lives soon became the path of many people.

No matter how strong their military power, or how outstanding their charm, it was an innate quality that could not be easily obtained, and at the same time, a momentum that they had won for themselves.

Lee Chul.

A bastard from a concubine, a persecuted illegitimate child.

He has now grown up so much that he has become a talent who can stand in front of many warriors and lead them.

His own military power, their respect, their awe, Lee Chul obtained all of that with his own strength.

It was a struggle. Lee Chul’s life was.

A person who climbed up from the bottom, more suited to the name of Soongmoo than anyone else.

Who in this world is more suited to the name of Soongmoo than the young man Lee Chul?

“I believe.”

Finally, Lee Chul left his last words.

There were no long, drawn-out words to boost morale, just a simple and clear word full of trust.

“Let’s go.”

It was the departure of Soongmoo Lee Ga and the Church State.