Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 336

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 336

Preparations for the succession ceremony, the first in decades, were in full swing at the Soongmoo Lee family.

The protagonist was Lee Cheol.

Once scorned as a bastard, he had saved the Soongmoo Lee family through constant struggle. No one opposed the news of Lee Cheol’s confirmation as the next head of the family.

Well, it wasn’t that there were no opponents at all, but no one could voice their complaints.

All the direct descendants who made up the current Soongmoo Lee family, as well as the Council of Elders and other powerful figures, supported Lee Cheol.

Even if that weren’t the case, Lee Cheol’s influence was already too great to ignore, regardless of lineage or age.

It was impossible to find anyone other than Lee Cheol who was fit to be the head of the family.

In fact, the succession ceremony didn’t necessarily need to be rushed alongside the appointment of the head of the family.

However, given the current volatile international situation, the Council of Elders declared that it would proceed without delay.

Ignoring the tense global climate, invitations were sent to influential figures worldwide, and the event was widely reported in the media, drawing global attention to the Soongmoo Lee family.

Meanwhile.

Inside the Soongmoo Lee family’s Council of Elders chamber.

The elders were gathered for a private meeting.

They seemed to have reached an agreement on some important matter, nodding their heads with satisfied expressions.

“Then I guess we should move forward with that.”

“That seems reasonable, Council Head.”

“I’m glad that opinions seem to have aligned without much conflict.”

At that moment, the door opened and a person entered.

The one who entered was Lee Cheol.

He was the current acting head of the family, and the young man who would officially become the next head of the family as soon as the upcoming succession ceremony concluded.

“Elders. I heard you called me. What’s going on?”

Lee Cheol looked around the Council of Elders chamber with a puzzled expression.

The regular meeting was over, and there was no special agenda.

There was no apparent reason for the Council of Elders to summon him at this time, especially when he was busy preparing for the succession ceremony.

‘It’s a busy time, but why are all the elders of the important departments here… Aunt? Why is Aunt here?’

Just as he was wondering, the Head of the Council of Elders looked at him from the platform and said.

“Young Master Lee Cheol. There isn’t much time left until the succession ceremony. We have called you here because we haven’t received an answer to what we discussed with you before.”

At the words of the Head of the Council of Elders, Lee Cheol’s eyes widened slightly.

“Could it be that what the Head of the Council of Elders is talking about is…”

“Yes, the two issues that must be resolved before the succession of the head of the family.”

When Lee Cheol returned from seclusion, the Head of the Council of Elders had informed him of two matters that needed to be addressed before the succession could proceed.

The first concerned his deceased brother’s wife, his sister-in-law, and his nephew, Yeon.

That was resolved when Lee Cheol accepted Yeon as his disciple.

And the other one… That was…

“You know that the head of the main family must be accompanied by the family mother [the wife or leading female figure of the family] at the succession ceremony.”

Family mother.

In other words, it was a term referring to the mistress of the Soongmoo Lee family, and, in simpler terms, the person who would become his wife.

The succession ceremony was not only an important event for the next head of the family.

The presence of the family mother, who would stand side by side with the head of the family, was equally important.

“Young Master Lee Cheol is over thirty years old. It’s not unusual to have a child by now. But you haven’t even gotten engaged yet.”

It would be one thing for an ordinary person, but for someone from a prestigious family, not being engaged at thirty was considered quite late.

“Besides, Young Master Lee Cheol is about to have a succession ceremony. In fact, it’s already late, but given the numerous incidents that have occurred, I think it’s crucial to make a decision now.”

The head of the Yesawon [an organization in charge of family events, traditions, and rituals], a newly established organization following the reorganization of the Council of Elders, stated.

It was a statement that could only be made by the head of the Yesawon, who oversaw family events, traditions, and rituals.

In fact, since Lee Cheol returned to the family after finishing his martial arts training, there had been numerous proposals from major domestic and foreign forces.

Lee Cheol had consistently refused, and these issues had been pushed to the back burner due to the series of major incidents that had occurred recently.

Lee Cheol chuckled at the head of the Yesawon’s firm words.

“Is that why you called me?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The words were complicated, but in short, they meant he needed to get married.

At the very least, he had to get engaged.

Only then did he realize why his aunt had been summoned to this place.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”

Lee Cheol sighed and said that, but this time he couldn’t avoid the issue.

The Head of the Council of Elders immediately replied.

“No. I think it’s already too late. It seems that Young Master Lee Cheol is unable to make a decision easily. The Council of Elders has gathered some opinions.”

“No, wait a minute. What are you talking about…”

“This time, there was contact from the Black Turtle Association. Cheol-ah. Considering everything, such as the interests between organizations, character, and age, there seems to be no one more suitable for you than that person.”

It was Uncle Lee Tae-hong who took over the words of the Head of the Council of Elders.

The Head of the Council of Elders, Lee Tae-hong, each of the elders, and even Lee Cheol’s aunt, exchanged strange smiles, as if they were conspiring.

“I was worried that there were no women of similar age to Young Master Lee Cheol in other places who would suit the main family, but this is a fortunate turn of events.”

“I met the head of the Black Turtle Association once before, and there was no other woman quite like her.”

“Of course. She is a benefactor of the family. I heard that Young Master Lee Cheol also owes a great debt to the Black Turtle Association.”

“The only person who suits Young Master Lee Cheol is her. Appearance, personality, connections, and interests. What’s missing?”

It was like a conversation in which adults were whispering about the young people of the family during the holidays.

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

Lee Cheol asked, feeling a little dumbfounded.

“Hmm, but Young Master Lee Cheol’s expression doesn’t look very good.”

“Oh dear, I’m sorry that you proposed it first, but should we refuse…”

“I see. The Black Turtle Association must have contacted us after much deliberation.”

Lee Cheol felt strongly that he had fallen into a trap.

‘Aunt!’

When he glanced at his aunt, she was giving him a meaningful smile.

His aunt moved her lips slightly to say something to him.

‘I’m sorry.’

‘……!’

It meant that even his aunt was not on his side.

“Hmm? Do you not like the head of the Black Turtle Association?”

Uncle Lee Tae-hong looked at him with a playful expression.

“No, it’s not that, it’s just that such an important event, how can you do this without consulting me?”

“So you don’t like it. This is going to be embarrassing for the head of the Black Turtle Association. Let’s see how we should refuse this…”

“No…”

There was no way out.

Lee Cheol opened his mouth and then closed it tightly.

‘Don’t you think it’s going well?’

‘Hmm, to win an argument against that Lee Cheol. I’m proud of that.’

‘Yes, yes, when you think about it, where else can you find someone like Lee Cheol? And where else can you find someone like the head of the Black Turtle Association? It’s a good match.’

While the elders were smiling sinisterly, the Head of the Council of Elders looked at Lee Cheol and made an announcement with the same indifferent expression as always.

“The story has gone off track. First of all, I apologize in advance, Young Master Lee Cheol. I thought you would object if you heard about it in advance, so I have already set a date. A meeting will be arranged tomorrow afternoon, so I think it would be good to proceed with a meeting with the Black Turtle Association.”

It wasn’t an opinion adjustment, it was a meeting right away?

At those words, Lee Cheol couldn’t help but open his mouth wide.

* * *

Black Turtle Association, Korean Branch.

Even there, a situation similar to that in the Soongmoo Lee family was unfolding.

Natalia watched Anastasia, who was so intelligent and wise, make an unfittingly dazed expression.

“What, what did you say…”

“The arrangement with the Soongmoo Lee family is finalized, President. Don’t you know? It’s not just about the traditions of this association, but also for the President’s own good…”

“No, even so, without my input?”

Perhaps because of the less rigid organizational atmosphere compared to the Soongmoo Lee family, they simply smiled strangely at Anastasia’s words.

“Do you not like it, President?”

“Ah, no, that’s not the problem right now!”

She had never been in a relationship, and she had never even had a secret tryst, but to skip all that and get engaged?

“More than that, whose idea is this?”

Natalia, who was sitting in the conference room, sighed and stepped forward.

“It’s me, President.”

“Lia…?”

“President. No, Ana. I’m speaking as an older sister who has been assisting and taking care of Ana. If you keep waiting without doing anything, things will remain as they are. Ana is old enough now. So, I have agreed to the meeting in my capacity as a senior member of the association.”

“Natalia. Even you… !”

Natalia looked at Anastasia’s shocked expression.

Anastasia’s already pale skin seemed to be slightly flushed.

Besides, her earlobes were as red as plums.

“Right tomorrow. No, so suddenly like this…”

Anastasia couldn’t easily organize her thoughts and just stammered.

Because of her spirit transformation, she possessed an intelligence and mental maturity far beyond her peers, but she was not immune to this kind of situation.

“Anyway, the time has already been set for tomorrow. I hope you can accept it.”

The voices of the branch managers in the conference continued in Anastasia’s ears.

Anastasia sighed for a long time with a dazed expression.

That night, Anastasia was almost out of her mind all day long because of the news about the forced meeting.

Sitting in front of the dressing table in her bedroom, she stared blankly at the mirror.

Engagement. An engagement…?

Anastasia felt her face burning up, as if it would explode.

How did it come to this? Her mind was reeling from the sudden turn of events.

She had calmly devised countermeasures even when she heard that Goonseong had snatched Soongmoo Lee Ga, or during the incidents involving the appearance of the aerial fortress, but now, she couldn’t think of any solutions at all.

Gulp.

Anastasia swallowed hard, her throat dry.

As she pondered for a long time, she couldn’t help but imagine it in her head.

The succession ceremony of the head of the family, with herself beside him.

Along with the title of Black Crow Lord, as the lady of Soongmoo Lee Ga, and Lee Chul’s….

Bang! Whoosh!

In an instant, flames erupted beside her, smashing the dressing table to pieces.

Since learning magic from Lee Chul, she had never lost control, but now, the power of the spirits had spontaneously erupted and exploded.

“Th, this. Such a mistake….”

She couldn’t even bring herself to care about the spectacular demise of her beloved cream-colored dressing table, and stared blankly at the mirror again.

Then, in a moment, she slapped her cheeks to compose herself.

“That’s right.”

In fact, when she thought about it, it wasn’t a bad thing.

Anastasia thought back on her experiences with Lee Chul.

She, who was destined to have a short life, had met Lee Chul and gained new possibilities, and experienced many things.

To her, who had been seeing the world through the senses of spirits, it was all so human and sparklingly brilliant.

Of course, Lee Chul humbly said that she could have overcome her heavenly curse on her own every time.

She knew.

In fact, she herself thought that she could have done it someday.

But the important thing was the existence of a companion.

If she had been alone, she would have had to pioneer her life alone in the midst of the distant senses and time that the spirits felt.

But Lee Chul was by her side.

Lee Chul was the first person to hold her hand.

Doo-geun! [Sound of a heartbeat]

Anastasia felt the turmoil in her head subside as she felt the rapidly pounding of her heart and the meaning it brought.

How should she express this feeling?

It was too embarrassing for her to put it into words, so Anastasia had to wash her face with a sigh, as if the air was escaping.

She had known for a long time what she felt for Lee Chul, but she had never recognized it so clearly.

Black Crow Lord Anastasia. She wanted to walk and see with Lee Chul.

‘…That’s right, there’s nothing wrong with it.’

Thinking that way, other expectations welled up.

The things she had dreamed of when she was destined to have a short life and was confined to the territories owned by the Black Crow Society.

Anastasia, who had no choice but to be much more mature than her age, was still a person after all, and rather, she had a longing for ‘that kind of thing’.

Love, meeting, dating… and other processes.

If the object was Lee Chul, there was nothing more to wish for. No, there was no one but Lee Chul.

So there’s nothing wrong with it.

‘However, if there’s anything that bothers me….’

It was that it was a semi-forced event that was carried out without any preparation or prior notice.

‘Lee Chul must be embarrassed too. He doesn’t seem like someone who would be immune to this kind of thing.’

She wished they could have spent more time alone.

She would have liked to have had more conversations, not just work-related ones, and if there hadn’t been any major incidents, she would have liked to have looked around here and there like ordinary people.

But she knew best that that was not possible.

Lee Chul will soon have to hold a succession ceremony, and if so, the lady must be confirmed.

From the Black Crow Society’s point of view, nothing is as important as the protection of Soongmoo Lee Ga in this chaotic situation.

Realistically and coldly, as the heads of each large organization, they don’t have time for romance or secret meetings.

Toc, toc!

Then a low knock was heard.

“Lord, no, Anastasia… no, Ana. It’s me.”

She changed her title several times.

She recognized the owner of the voice.

It was Natalia, who had taken care of her since she was a child, like an older sister.

“Yes, come in, Ria.”

As soon as she opened the door and came in, she blinked at the sight of the broken dressing table and Anastasia.

“Um. Pl, please ignore this. I didn’t mean to….”

“Ah, yes….”

Beyond the level of being shattered, it was completely turned into powder, so should she ignore it?

Natalia decided to ignore it for now.

“I’m sorry about what happened today. But….”

“No, it’s okay, Ria. Actually, when you think about it, there’s nothing wrong with it, right?”

Anastasia shrugged.

“Rather, it’s a good thing. I know myself well. Maybe if it had been left like this, it would have dragged on and become ambiguous. I think it’s better this way.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

Anastasia smiled and reassured Natalia.

Natalia paused for a moment.

“But… are you really okay?”

“Of course. Of course.”

“Yes, then I hope you have a good night’s sleep tonight. I’ll see you early tomorrow morning.”

Only then did Natalia retreat with a light heart.

Anastasia approached the window and leaned against the window frame.

It was a summer sky.

Counting the sparkling summer constellations in the distance, she organized her thoughts.

Black Crow Lord Anastasia. She was a rational person. She was born that way.

In her life living through spiritualization, she had spent far more time than ordinary humans.

She had accumulated a lot of knowledge, and she was a person with intelligence and wisdom accordingly.

Rather than a little regret or lack, it was better to think about what she had gained and what she would gain….

-Pya-byak? [Sound of a bird chirping]

Then a small bird was seen flying into the window.

“Huh? Black bird?”

Black bird.

It was a spirit beast raised by Lee Chul.

This spirit beast, which had more power than most high-ranking warriors, was left in the Black Crow Society by Lee Chul in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances.

“Weren’t you sleeping?”

Anastasia gently stroked the bottom of the black bird’s beak with her index finger.

-Pyaaaaak. [Sound of a bird chirping]

The black bird leaned against her hand as if it liked it.

At that sight, Anastasia unknowingly smiled with a relaxed expression.

It seemed that it had felt the agitation in her heart. As expected, a spirit beast was a spirit beast.

“I’m okay. Rather, I’m thinking about something else now. I’m wondering how to tease Lee Chul when I meet him tomorrow. Aren’t you looking forward to it too? Lee Chul must be embarrassed too, and on top of that….”

Anastasia smiled playfully.

“Oh, right. I’m going to meet Lee Chul tomorrow anyway, so do you want to come with me?”

-Pyak? Pya-byak? [Sound of a bird chirping]

The black bird tilted its head at Anastasia’s words.

-Pyak! [Sound of a bird chirping]

Then the black bird spread its wings and pointed straight ahead.

“Huh? Why? Is someone there?”

-Pyak! Pyak! [Sound of a bird chirping]

Anastasia turned her head.

Soon, her eyes widened as she looked at the night sky.

Under the night sky, with the constellations behind him, a person was flying towards the window.

“Anastasia… don’t you like teasing me too much?”

A low, baritone voice flowed into the night air.

Slightly sharp eyes, handsome and beautiful appearance, and a trained body.

As he arranged the fluttering silver robe, Lee Chul landed silently on the window frame.

“Oh, uh?”

“I’m sorry for being late at night. Was I being too rude? No, I must have been very rude.”

“Ah, no. It’s okay. Come in quickly.”

Anastasia felt her face flush in an instant.

Why is the person in question suddenly here when her thoughts are not yet fully organized?

In an instant, she even pinched the back of her hand, wondering if all of this was a dream.

“Ah, no, wait a minute. That’s not it. Lee Chul? Why are you here? What’s going on?”

“I have a bit of a rebellious streak.”

A rebellious streak? What does that mean?

“I don’t like hearing about sudden engagements or formal meetings. Don’t you think this isn’t the way to do it?”

Lee Chul’s eyes, with a meaningful smile, caught Anastasia’s eyes again.

“So, if you don’t mind, would you like to go out with me for a while now?”

Anastasia still couldn’t hide her embarrassment.

Just as Lee Chul had reached out to her when she was suffering from a heavenly curse a long time ago.

At this moment, Lee Chul was once again reaching out to her.