Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 42

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Chapter 42

Unlike the lively main house, filled with the sounds of warriors training and the busy movements of servants, Yi Tae-shin’s office was eerily silent.

The modest, modern-style Korean house, a single story, looked neat and traditional, but lacked the grandeur befitting the name of the Soongmoo Yi family.

Yi Seo-hyun and I stood at the entrance, waiting after Butler Choi announced our arrival.

“I wonder why Father called us?”

Yi Seo-hyun was uncharacteristically nervous and fidgety.

“It’s probably nothing. Relax.”

“How can I relax! You should be nervous too. You’re the only one who can stay so calm in front of Father.”

I chuckled, seeing Yi Seo-hyun scold me.

‘It’s not like I’m not nervous.’

I was nervous in my own way.

Father is a scary person.

He sometimes gives his children harsh tests and coldly rebukes them if they show a side that doesn’t live up to the Soongmoo Yi family name.

But that was it.

Father is scary, but he wasn’t someone who instilled terror.

After all, he’s still my father, and I know that the trials he gives me are to test me and make me stronger.

‘The old men of the family are more troublesome.’

Compared to them, whose motives and actions are unpredictable, Father felt almost familiar.

“You’ve been waiting long. Young Lady Seo-hyun, Young Master Cheol.”

After a brief moment, Butler Choi came out to greet us.

I followed Yi Seo-hyun and Butler Choi into the building.

“Butler Choi, how is Father’s mood today? He didn’t call us to scold us, did he?”

Butler Choi gave a gentle smile at Yi Seo-hyun’s nervous words.

“Young Lady, please don’t be too afraid of the Head of the family. Though his methods may seem strict, the Head of the family loves his children like any ordinary father.”

“Y-Yes?”

Yi Seo-hyun’s expression was a sight to behold.

I quietly stared at Butler Choi’s back.

‘His footsteps and presence, even his energy, are as ordinary as a commoner’s… but what is this feeling?’

For the first time in my life, I felt a strange sense of incongruity from Butler Choi.

It was a sensation I had never felt from anyone before.

He was clearly within arm’s reach, yet it felt like he was far away.

The distance between him and me was ungraspable.

“We have arrived. Please, both of you, tidy your appearances.”

Butler Choi’s words broke my concentration.

I glanced at Butler Choi’s clear smile and straightened my collar.

Knock, knock.

Once Yi Seo-hyun and I were ready, Butler Choi knocked on the office door.

“Head of the family, Eighth Young Lady Yi Seo-hyun and Ninth Young Master Yi Cheol have arrived.”

“Let them in.”

I opened the door and stepped inside.

“We greet Father.”

“We greet Father.”

Yi Seo-hyun and I bowed respectfully.

The space was too cozy to be the office of the Great Soongmoo Yi family’s Head.

A brown bookshelf filled with books, a mahogany desk with a smooth texture, a leather sofa showing traces of wear, and soft sunlight streaming through the window’s bars.

The peaceful scenery, where time seemed to have stopped, gave the impression that we had stepped out of the mortal realm.

I saw Father in that setting.

A middle-aged man sitting at his desk, silently reading documents.

And my eyes were drawn to a long sword placed right next to where Father was sitting.

‘…It doesn’t feel out of place.’

Even though Yi Tae-shin, the world-renowned powerhouse, and his beloved sword were placed in such a gentle scene, they didn’t stand out at all and blended in perfectly.

It wasn’t just a simple impression.

In reality, Father’s aura was nowhere to be felt.

As if he were a part of nature, he was simply there.

‘Has he become… stronger?’

Or has he reached such a state of being?

I couldn’t even grasp that.

“Welcome.”

I had actually looked at Father for only about 10 seconds.

Father put down the documents and gestured for Yi Seo-hyun and me to come to the sofa.

“I had some free time and called you to talk. I heard you finished the first year of the Cadet Corps [military academy].”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Y-Yes…”

Yi Seo-hyun was stammering as if she had become a criminal.

It was her choice, but she was still a direct descendant of the Soongmoo Yi family and hadn’t even made it into the rankings.

But that wasn’t important to Father.

“What did you feel?”

Father took a sip of tea and asked in a calm voice.

Yi Seo-hyun paused for a moment.

Then she glanced at me.

‘Why are you looking at me?’

As if she had read my gaze, Yi Seo-hyun immediately turned her head towards Father.

Then, in a voice much calmer than before, she continued.

“I saw the true nature of the family.”

Cough-

I coughed without realizing it.

It was because I had noticed the real meaning of the word ‘true nature’.

‘You were so nervous, and suddenly?’

Father looked at Yi Seo-hyun with interest.

“What do you mean by true nature?”

“I… I know that it’s about checks, or competition. But I saw things that I couldn’t accept happening so casually… I don’t think that fits the spirit of Soongmoo [Martial Excellence].”

“So, what did you think?”

“It… it may be presumptuous… but I think I’ve decided on my path.”

Yi Seo-hyun swallowed hard.

She was still nervous, but she wasn’t stuttering anymore.

“I like things to be fair and square. Whatever I achieve, I want to achieve it with my sword, with my own strength.”

“Fair and square, you say.”

Father pondered Yi Seo-hyun’s words with a meaningful expression.

“Not bad.”

He said that, but Yi Tae-shin was inwardly looking at his daughter with fresh eyes.

‘There was a reason she was chosen by the Holy Sword.’

She was definitely not like this a few years ago.

She had decent talent, but she was whiny and had a weak heart.

But now, she had her own convictions.

It might be a conviction that could be seen as endlessly naive, but it suited her.

When did she become like this?

It was a change that had occurred while he was away on his journey.

Looking at these two children, it wasn’t hard to guess the reason for the change.

‘It’s you.’

Yi Tae-shin turned his head and looked at his youngest son.

“Then, youngest, what did you feel?”

I thought for a moment.

I felt many things.

My shortcomings, the absurdities of the family, even things about the instructors and cadets.

But if I had to say what I felt the most, it would be one thing.

“Disappointment.”

“Cough.”

This time, it was Yi Seo-hyun who coughed.

“The Cadet Corps is the foundation of the Soongmoo Yi family. It is where talents who will influence every aspect of the Soongmoo Yi family grow.”

I took a moment to catch my breath.

“But there were too many cadets, and even instructors who taught those cadets, who were not worthy of the name of the Soongmoo Yi family. The current Cadet Corps is flawed.”

“Flawed, you say.”

Yi Tae-shin’s brow twitched.

It was a different feeling.

Pointing out the problems of the Cadet Corps was no different from pointing out Yi Tae-shin himself.

His children would only be nervous or afraid in front of him and would not dare to utter such provocative words so carelessly.

Come to think of it, this child was like that even during the naming ceremony.

He respected him, but he wasn’t afraid of him.

Yi Tae-shin stared at his son and pointed out.

“You are still young. Don’t you think you haven’t understood because of your narrow-minded views?”

I calmly replied to Father’s criticism.

“I don’t think so.”

“Why?”

“Of course, I am still young and don’t know much. But I think this is a fundamental problem beyond that. That’s why I am sure that I am right.”

“Alright, then what is that problem?”

“They… didn’t fight.”

The second-year cadets and many instructors.

Even Class 5 and Yi Jeong-ho were pathetic before they were changed by me.

“You can be weak, you can lose, but those who stop fighting don’t belong in the Soongmoo Yi family.”

I continued.

“And I’ve seen too many cadets like that. The fact that the cadets have become like that means that there is a problem with the instructors’ capabilities or teaching methods.”

I spoke and watched Father’s expression.

‘Was I too forward?’

It was too raw of an impression.

Father put down the teacup.

“Insolent.”

A scolding tone.

I flinched for a moment but widened my eyes at Father’s expression.

‘Was he smiling?’

It was very faint, but there was a smile on Father’s lips.

But it disappeared so quickly that it felt like I had seen it wrong.

“It is commendable that you have established the foundation of your own thoughts while living as cadets. But always be wary. Once you fall into the swamp of narrow-mindedness, it is not easy to get out.”

Father was giving advice directly, and Yi Seo-hyun’s face brightened as if flowers were blooming.

“Thank you! I will engrave it in my heart… Ugh!”

She bit her tongue while trying to use difficult words that didn’t suit her.

I tried to hold back my laughter as I looked at Yi Seo-hyun.

“Thank you. I will keep it in mind.”

Father took another sip of tea.

I thought as I looked at Father.

‘Now he’ll slowly bring up the main point.’

The short conversation just now was just a light test and advice as a father.

As expected.

“I have heard about your work as cadets this past year.”

I straightened my back and corrected my posture.

“The tests I gave you this past year were different from the tasks performed by the Jeongmu officers in terms of level, but not in terms of content. You realized that it was a test I gave you, and you faithfully carried out the tasks according to my intentions.”

“I… I just did my best because it was a given task.”

Yi Seo-hyun lowered her head as if she was sorry.

Father nodded once and continued.

“The reason I called you here today was to give you an award for the tasks you have accomplished.”

At Father’s words, both Yi Seo-hyun and I widened our eyes.

Aside from the evaluation in the Forest of Human Faces.

Whether it was Class 1 or Class 5, the tasks given in any evaluation were of unimaginable difficulty.

And both Yi Seo-hyun and I had faithfully carried out all those evaluations.

Father was saying that he would give us a reward for that.

‘Even though Father is thorough with rewards and punishments, to give us a reward for something like this…’

The thought that it might be some kind of whim due to a change in Father’s mood suddenly crossed my mind.

“N-No, it’s really okay. If we were helpful to Father’s work, we would be honored!”

Yi Seo-hyun waved her hands.

“Your work was a small help to what I am preparing. This is a reasonable reward, so don’t refuse too much and tell me if there is anything you want.”

Yi Seo-hyun was momentarily stunned and nervous.

She seemed to be wondering what to ask for.

“Ah, th-then I…!”

After thinking for a very short time, Yi Seo-hyun seemed to have made up her mind and continued.

“I… I want the Yongrin Armor…”

The masterpiece-level chest armor, Yongrin Armor.

Despite being a masterpiece, it was treated as a quasi-sacred object due to its versatility and special abilities.

“Good. I will tell Bi-go in advance. You will be able to receive it tomorrow.”

“Yes…!”

Yi Seo-hyun’s eyes sparkled.

Now Father’s eyes turned to me.

“Son, what do you want?”

While Yi Seo-hyun was pondering, I had already finished thinking about what to say.

“I…”

The moment he heard my words.

Yi Seo-hyun was horrified.

And Father’s brow furrowed just a little.