Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 332

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 332

Over two months had passed since the internal strife.

International tensions were escalating, but the chaos within the Soongmoo Yi family was gradually subsiding.

This was partly due to the silence of the Nine Dragons, who had often been in conflict with the family, and partly because the Lee Gun-sung faction had been largely purged.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely peaceful.

“Iron Brigade! Don’t you dare lose to the Ghoul Squad! Push them back!”

“Kuaaaaak!”

Behind the Soongmoo Yi family estate, on the artificial mountain,
the two pillars of the Four Gods Army, the Iron Brigade and the Ghoul Squad, were clashing.

Choi In-ha and Kim Bo-sung, the leaders of their respective units, crossed swords, while their subordinates maintained formation, exchanging blows.

It was a bit too intense to be considered mere training.

I watched them from above with a satisfied smile.

‘It’s true that the main family’s power has diminished, but the warriors are training even harder because of it.’

Since the aerial fortress incident and the internal strife, I had reduced external missions and focused on strengthening the main family.

Not only the main warrior band, the Four Gods Army, but also the minor warrior bands, the direct line [the main lineage of the family], and even the elders had to participate in this training.

The number of troops had significantly decreased due to the internal strife, but thanks to that, only the elite who had overcome the chaos remained in the main family.

On top of that, I was pouring unprecedented support into the main family’s forces.

Therefore, it couldn’t be said that the main family had simply become weaker.

“…Seriously, you’re something else. As soon as you seize power, you focus on training instead of internal affairs.”

Just then, a familiar voice came from beside me.

It was my second sister.

She still had some aftereffects, but having overcome her injuries, my sister was largely the same as before.

My second sister muttered, sensing the training taking place on the artificial mountain with her senses.

“And you’ve opened the main family’s treasury. Elixirs, secret manuals, equipment… Do you really have to go this far?”

“You know why. The main family needs to be stronger to overcome the chaos.”

As my second sister said, I had opened the treasury and the Janggyeonggak library [a library containing important documents and artifacts of the family].

I had opened everything that had been somewhat restricted to the branch families, retainers, and even the direct line.

“This isn’t the time to be stingy.”

“What about the elders’ opposition?”

“I ignored them. My authority is enough to do that now.”

I answered firmly.

There would soon be a war.

Probably a war that would determine the fate of humanity.

In the face of that, what value would mere elixirs or secret manuals have?

My sister smiled wryly and said,

“But is this why you refused the position of family head? If you were going to wield this much power, you should have just become the family head.”

“It’s not that I refused.”

“Isn’t it pretty much the same thing?”

A few months ago, I had accepted the elders’ request.

But I didn’t immediately become the family head.

-I will accept the position of family head. But not now.

I wonder what kind of constipated expressions the elders had on their faces when I said that.

Of course, there was a reason.

“If I become the family head, I’ll have to stay within the family. This is enough for now.”

“Seriously. Then just give the position of family head to me!”

“Is that something I can just give away?”

“Tch.”

I was planning to become the family head.

But right now, I needed time to move freely.

So, I compromised by temporarily seizing the power of the Soongmoo Yi family.

“Still, hurry up and become the family head. If you keep dragging your feet like that, I’ll snatch it away.”

“You don’t have to worry…”

I smiled, looking at the warrior bands training.

“…I’m planning to do so when the seclusion ends.”

“Seclusion… Are you really going to go? Your presence is quite important to the main family right now.”

“I felt the need to increase my strength.”

I clenched and unclenched my fist.

This new realm.

It wasn’t something that could be simply organized.

But I felt the need to make it more perfect.

I had the means and the time, so there was no reason to stop.

‘How strong are you trying to become? This crazy little brother of mine.’

Lee Jin-yoon chuckled and looked at Lee Cheol.

She was also a strong person who could use the Mind Sword, so she vaguely understood Lee Cheol’s realm.

Already at a level that was beyond being called a superhuman.

A First-Class Warrior?

That wasn’t it.

Lee Cheol had already reached the next level.

And yet, he felt lacking and was trying to become stronger…

‘That must be the source of your strength.’

And the reason why he was being considered as the head of the main family after defeating Lee Gun-sung.

“Still, it’s a relief that you’re not going far away for your seclusion.”

Lee Jin-yoon said, looking up at the sky.

“Yes, I’m glad it can be used in this way.”

I followed my sister’s gaze.

Behind the Soongmoo Yi family estate, above the artificial mountain.
A huge object cast a shadow as it floated in the air.

The aerial fortress.
The beginning of all the chaos, and now the castle that had become mine, was there.

I was planning to undergo seclusion there.

* * *

Around the time the family’s internal affairs were somewhat settled,

I decided to go into seclusion.

And before leaving, the last elders’ council meeting was held.

“…The transfer of the head researcher’s divine mana technique is currently about half completed. The operation of the mana furnace is being carried out mainly by those who have been to the aerial fortress.”

“The elixirs brought in from the L.I Group have also been roughly distributed.”

Most of the recent elders’ council meetings were like that.

They were using every means to increase their power, and the government was even expressing concern about the Soongmoo Yi family’s sudden military expansion.

“Mountain Spirit?”

“Oh? Ah, the goblin wrestling seems to be wrapping up. Your family members generally have strong mental fortitude, so they’re learning quickly.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry for making unreasonable requests to the goblins.”

“What are you talking about? There are quite a few who are eagerly jumping in. Besides, isn’t there unlimited alcohol and food? Very satisfying!”

“How are the dwarves from Ireland doing?”

“Ah, those guys are working hard at smithing. They seem to be getting along well with Sub-ajae [likely a term of respect or endearment for a subordinate]?”

I nodded, watching the Mountain Spirit laugh heartily.

Another measure I took to strengthen the main family’s power was the mystical races.

Through this battle at the aerial fortress, I realized the importance of battles that used not only the strengthening of mental power but also mental power itself as a force.

And knowing the purpose of the Dawn Society, I couldn’t leave the dwarves of Ireland alone, so I brought them here.

‘Divine mana technique… Was Lee Cheol’s amazing mana ability derived from that?’

‘But it was somewhat complete even before he went to the aerial fortress. He may truly be a person chosen by the times…’

‘Goblins with deep ties to the main family, mystical races from other countries, even the Black Crow Society and the aerial fortress… It’s truly amazing.’

The elders were once again in awe of Lee Cheol.

The Soongmoo Yi family was getting stronger.

Lee Cheol was behind it all.

He opened the treasury and emptied it of elixirs and equipment, opened the Janggyeonggak library and passed on all kinds of techniques.

Goblins were training their minds, and the Soongmoo Yi family’s top experts were generously teaching and training ordinary warriors.

Originally, this kind of indiscriminate support would bring about laziness, but due to the chaos and battles that had taken place, ordinary warriors were living a fierce life instead of being lazy.

“Then that’s it for now. Are there any other matters?”

“No. …Temporary Family Head.”

Hearing the reluctant title from the head of the elders’ council, I smiled and stood up from my seat.

“Then I’ll leave the family in your care while I’m gone.”

“…”

I got up from my seat.

“Where are you planning to go?”

“First…”

I fiddled with Eun-han’s jeogori [a traditional Korean jacket].

“I think I’ll stop by Soongmoo Mountain first.”

Black Night.

The time had finally come to release the next seal.

* * *

How long had it been since I climbed Soongmoo Mountain?

The appearance of Soongmoo Mountain was a little different from what I had imagined.

It was still a quiet and spiritually rich mountain, but I felt a strange sense of incongruity in the air.

The energy of the land changes with the passing of time. Accordingly, the energy here must have changed as well.

Thump!

I climbed Soongmoo Mountain.

Before the seclusion training at the aerial fortress, it was necessary to release the next seal of Black Night.

‘Finally, the eighth seal.’

The first seal, Iron Wire Art.

The second seal, Proof of Bloodline.

The third seal, Naming Ceremony.

The fourth seal, Bloodless Dream.

The fifth seal, Goblin Wrestling.

The sixth seal, 12 Seasonal Divisions.

The seventh seal, the liberation of the Mountain Spirit.

And the eighth.

The battle at the aerial fortress.

I had completed it, and now I was setting out to prove it.

Thud!

While going up, I felt some kind of presence from the side.

When I turned around, Lee Gun-sung was there.

-Will you be alright?

Was it thanks to the sacredness of Youngsan [a sacred mountain]?

Or was it just my imagination?

I saw a hallucination of Lee Gun-sung, who had turned to ashes and scattered in the wind, returning and accompanying me.

He was speaking to me in a meaningful voice.

-If you abandon that sword in the deep sea or deep in the mountains, he will not cause any harm to your path.

“If I do that, I’ll be throwing away one of my powers for no reason. And First Brother will remain in that state.”

-Don’t you think about stopping after the seventh seal? That alone will be enough power.

“Enough is not enough.”

I put more strength into my steps.

Black Night, which I was wearing on my waist, emitted its unique sword cry.

The scabbard made by Sub Elder was no longer enough to contain the power of Black Night.

-You will endure even the eighth seal. But you will face him. The ghost named Lee Hyul-hyun, who built up the entire history of the Soongmoo Yi family for thousands of years, will stand in your way.

“Then I’ll overcome even that.”

-That sword is dangerous. Lee Hyul-hyun is even more dangerous.

“I’ve known it was dangerous for a long time.”

Tak!

I slowly walked to the top of Soongmoo Mountain without using a single ounce of mana.

The sun was close. The clouds gathered on the mountain faded away.

Lee Gun-sung slowly disappeared as if he were an illusion, as if he were seeping into the moisture of the clouds.

-As always, you will fight again.

“I always have.”

-I’ll be watching you. Now you are the only hope.

Lee Gun-sung’s illusion soon disappeared.

I turned my head and looked straight ahead.

The altar of the founder, Lee Hyul-hyun.

Perhaps it would be best to give up Black Night.

I had also reached an incredibly high level, but Lee Hyul-hyun was one of the strongest of the strong who had been living since ancient times.

Even those dwarves recognized him as a true singularity.

“Then I’ll just overcome even that.”

I placed Black Night on the altar.

I sprinkled blood and released the next seal.

I no longer paid respect to my ancestors.

Knowing his secret, I knew that paying respect would be contrary to the values of the Soongmoo Yi family.

Kiiiiiiiiing!

A violent roar swept over the tomb, where there was no breeze, and one of the remaining two letters of Black Night was broken.

───Gooooooo!

As if a beast were howling, a low and heavy vibration echoed throughout the tomb.

Crack! Clang!

The altar was broken, and even the fragments and incense table were destroyed.

No, it wasn’t just destroyed.

The ominous black energy that Black Night was emitting was annihilating everything without leaving a single speck of dust.

I slowly made my way through the storm of energy.

And I reached out and grabbed Black Night.

Splat!

A cold sensation ran through my fingertips.

The back of my hand and the knuckles of my fingers were cut off as if they had been cut by a knife, and the mana that had been wrapped around my hand scattered into the air.

I didn’t care.

Rather, I gripped Black Night even more tightly.

Swish!

As soon as I pulled Black Night out of the altar, I swung it once as if shaking off the energy.

At the end of the strange cry, a black line was drawn on the tomb.

Rumble!

The tomb collapsed as if a landslide had occurred.

The cut surface was as clean as a glass surface. It had been completely annihilated.

The power to annihilate a mountain peak without a single point of mana.

‘This must also be a danger that I have to bear.’

Black Night is just one of the many weapons I can wield.

I must not be swayed by the sword. The sword must be wielded.

Grip!

I gripped Black Night even more tightly.

The raging energy gradually subsided, and soon silence fell on the chaotic tomb.

I released the strength in my hand holding the calmed Black Night and put it back into its scabbard.

Whooooo!

The wind died down and light burst out in one place.

The only unbroken memorial tablet in the tomb.
The condition for the final seal was revealed on it.

“Ha.”

I laughed as I read the condition.

“Yes, I’ll be waiting. Lee Hyul-hyun.”

Swoosh!

I cut down the memorial tablet and turned around.

-Soon, I will come for you.

That was the sentence written on the glowing nameplate.

* * *

Above Soongmoo Yi, the aerial fortress.

I finally stood face to face with the dwarves.

“It’s been a while, Master.”

“Is the restoration finally complete?”

“Yes.”

I nodded and took a deep breath.

“Then I’ll ask you for a favor.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“Yeah, I can’t avoid it when there’s such a good opportunity, right?”

“These records, even though they are illusions, are also real. What happens inside will affect the Master in some way.”

I smiled.

“That’s what I want.”

“…I understand. Then, is there a record you want?”

“Ancient. The Age of Gods.”

I said, shining my eyes.

“I’m going to fight Lugh. Prepare it for me.”

The seclusion I had decided to undertake was this.

The long history of this planet recorded by the aerial fortress.

I was going to gain my own experiences and history from those infinite records that even the leader of Kabbalah had coveted.