Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 44

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 44

Lee Jae-hak, the seventh son of the Sungmoo Lee Family.

Before my regression [reincarnation or time travel], whenever I saw my little brother’s name, it was always in the political or economic news.

He was more famous for his political, administrative, and commercial skills than for his martial prowess.

A thoroughness in his work that was hard to believe for someone of his young age, a skillful dexterity, and even a knack for maintaining relationships without creating enemies.

From a young age, he used the family’s allowance and subsidies to create seed money, and by the time he became an adult, he had already made a name for himself as a young entrepreneur by successfully launching several businesses.

He repeatedly sold and acquired these businesses, growing their scale.

By the time he was just over thirty.

The seventh brother had built an independent corporation unrelated to the Sungmoo Lee Family and succeeded in getting his name on the list of the business world’s rankings.

People called Lee Jae-hak the Golden Sword.

One of the young prodigies of the Sungmoo Lee Family, Lee Jae-hak, was sitting in front of me now.

‘I thought I would see him someday, but I didn’t expect that day to come so quickly, especially right after my promotion match.’

The seventh brother’s office was neat.

It had an atmosphere that felt almost obsessively clean.

The seventh brother brought the tea set himself.

“It’s been a while. Is this the first time since Chuseok [Korean Thanksgiving] this year?”

“That’s right. You remembered.”

“I’m not stupid enough to forget something like that.”

Putting down the tray, the seventh brother naturally sat across from me.

Not in the seat of honor, but directly in front.

I quietly watched the seventh brother start to brew tea.

‘He’s not an easy person to deal with.’

Conversations like ordinary siblings, the act of brewing tea himself, and the natural choice of seats.

Kind and welcoming gestures.

That’s why I couldn’t help but be more wary.

‘I prefer obvious malice to kindness that I can’t understand.’

If he had openly shown hostility or ignored me as a bastard, I wouldn’t have been so wary.

“Try it. My only hobby is enjoying tea, so my tea-brewing skills should be decent.”

“Do you usually serve tea to guests yourself?”

The seventh brother gave a subtle smile.

“It depends on the guest.”

“……I see.”

I held the teacup. A luxurious golden ring adorned the edge of the teacup.

Then, I took a sip of the tea.

A blend of Darjeeling and Assam.

“Good tea.”

“It’s the first flush [earliest harvest] harvested from a tea plantation I bought overseas two years ago. If you like it, I’ll send you some tea leaves.”

“It wouldn’t be polite to refuse a gift from my brother. I’ll gratefully accept it.”

After that, trivial conversations went back and forth.

Lee Jae-hak wore a strange expression.

‘I’ve tested him a few times, but he doesn’t rush to get to the point. That’s unusual composure for him. He knows how to seize control of the situation.’

Lee Jae-hak’s eyes, disguised as warmth, gauged the youngest, Lee Cheol.

He doesn’t exaggerate his gratitude, knows how to control his expression, and is calm in his words and actions, even though he’s probably nervous.

He should know that he was also involved in the events of this promotion match, but he remained calm throughout.

‘Indeed, he wasn’t just a pathetic guy with a little talent for martial arts.’

The exploration was enough.

After all, he was the one who called the youngest. He had to make some concessions.

Lee Jae-hak put down his teacup and slowly opened his mouth.

“The reason I called you here isn’t complicated.”

The seventh brother’s aura changed.

From an ordinary person to a cold-blooded martial artist.

This was the seventh brother I originally knew.

“The events of this promotion match were orchestrated by me and the sixth. Did you know?”

“Yes, I knew.”

I also put down my teacup.

Now we’re getting to the main point.

I focused on the seventh brother’s next words.

“Then the story will be quick. This wasn’t my idea.”

The words that came out of my little brother’s mouth weren’t much different from what I expected.

‘So, that’s how he’s playing it.’

The seventh brother’s way of handling things has a firm principle.

That is, not to make enemies under any circumstances.

He sets a line and doesn’t lean to the left or right.

It may be a clumsy way of handling things that could be attacked from both sides. But if the one performing it is the seventh brother, the story is different.

“But I certainly have my faults too. If you want, I’ll apologize.”

I silently shook my head.

“There’s no need to.”

A moment of silence.

I continued to speak as if nothing had happened.

“This incident is just one of many that will be repeated in the upcoming competition. You’re not going to tell me it was unavoidable because of Madam Baek, or rather, my stepmother’s wishes, are you?”

“Competition, huh? Do you consider me an enemy?”

“I can’t think of someone who messes with my people and openly makes advances as anything other than an enemy.”

The seventh brother stared at me silently.

I didn’t avoid his gaze either.

This incident was a debt that had to be repaid someday. I couldn’t just let it go with a few words without receiving corresponding compensation.

“Hmm…….”

The seventh brother’s eyes flashed.

‘What should I do?’

He already knew that I wasn’t someone who could be appeased with a few apologies.

Lee Jae-hak began to weigh his options.

‘Should I get rid of him, thinking about the trouble he might cause later?’

Although the first brother and father are a concern, it’s not difficult to deal with a powerless bastard.

‘Or should I endure the current loss for the sake of the future?’

At that moment, Lee Jae-hak saw his youngest brother’s eyes.

Deep and upright eyes.

A cool light flickered within them.

Lee Jae-hak made a decision upon discovering that gaze.

“What can I do for you?”

The seventh brother’s cool demeanor softened.

I smiled.

“Show some sincerity. I’m not the only one who was harmed this time.”

Lee Jae-hak chuckled in vain.

An arrogant guy. He won’t accept an apology, but he’ll take compensation.

But he liked the way he pursued practical gains.

“I think I’ll get along with you the most among the brothers.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“Anyway, it’s good. I’ll deliver an appropriate level of elixirs to the students of Class 5. And…….”

The seventh brother said that, then stood up from his seat and brought a long box from behind the table.

Thump-

The sound it made when he put it on the table made me guess its weight.

“What is this, Brother?”

“It’s something I was going to take as a gift in a deal with a certain martial arts family this time. Open it.”

I opened the long box made of sandalwood.

Whoosh!

At that moment, a cool energy swept over me.

‘This is…….’

What appeared in the box was a pair of swords and a saber.

“The famous sword Effenberg, the famous saber Judo (鑄刀) [forged blade].”

Both were masterpieces.

The sharpness I felt, the power that permeated them, was extraordinary.

Tingle-.

And the moment I faced those weapons, the black energy around my heart began to wriggle.

Like a beast that had found delicious prey, it was about to extend its energy right away if I allowed it.

“……Why are you going this far?”

The value of two masterpiece-level weapons was one thing, but I didn’t understand why the seventh brother was offering so much.

“I had a feeling that I shouldn’t make you an enemy.”

The seventh brother said in a firm voice and held out his hand to me.

“I think this much is enough to show my sincerity. What do you think?”

I looked at the seventh brother’s hand for a moment.

And slowly, I shook his hand.

“I’ll gratefully accept it.”

* * *

It would be strange for me to carry the weapons myself, so the seventh brother said he would have someone bring them to my residence.

I asked the seventh brother.

“The sixth sister or stepmother won’t be happy that you’re doing this. Are you okay with that?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Lee Jae-hak sincerely thought so.

Anyway, with this incident, his mother had caused him quite a bit of damage.

He received a reprimand for the failure, but there was no further interference.

Even if he did something more than this, she wouldn’t interfere.

And the sixth, Lee Seol-ah.

“That woman wouldn’t care either. If it wasn’t for my mother’s orders, I wouldn’t have done anything with her.”

“I see.”

Well, it wasn’t my problem to worry about.

“But be careful of the sixth. Unlike me, she doesn’t like you very much. She’ll take some action soon.”

“It doesn’t matter. I won’t be in the family for the next year anyway.”

“A year?”

I briefly explained what happened with my father.

“I see. I can see that woman running wild.”

The seventh brother burst into a pleasant laugh.

As we talked, we quickly arrived at the main gate.

The seventh brother said his last words to me as I was about to leave.

“Youngest. I don’t make enemies. Whether it’s business, competition, or whatever. I think it’s the stupidest thing to move while thinking of someone as an enemy.”

That was Lee Jae-hak’s way of life.

“So, this is the same. I think I can create a good relationship with you where we can help each other, even though we got off on the wrong foot.”

“You’ve made a lot of concessions, so I don’t intend to bring up this matter anymore. But little brother.”

I turned to the seventh brother.

“It’s not that you don’t make enemies, is it?”

“What?”

“Isn’t it just that you think of everyone but yourself as an enemy?”

Like someone who had been stabbed in the heart, a small crack appeared on the seventh brother’s face, which had been calm throughout.

“Ha.”

And the seventh brother began to laugh lowly.

“Hahaha. Just think of everyone as an enemy?”

The seventh brother doesn’t make enemies.

If the relationship is twisted, he takes a step back to maintain the relationship, even if it means short-term losses.

But I know the seventh brother.

If that relationship is so twisted that it can’t be undone, the seventh brother no longer tries to undo it.

And he begins to destroy the opponent who has crossed the line.

As if the relationship never existed in the first place, without a shred of regret or sympathy.

“You’re interesting.”

The little brother’s eyes shone sharply. It was like taking off a thin mask that had been decorating his face.

“I’m even more convinced that this choice was right. I look forward to working with you in the future.”

“I look forward to working with you too. Then, I’ll be on my way.”

I bowed lightly and turned my body.

I could feel the seventh brother’s gaze following me from behind.

* * *

January has arrived.

This year’s winter was unusually cold.

Unless one’s realm has risen and the body is being reconstructed, even those who have accumulated magical power can’t help but feel the cold if they don’t use their magical power all day long.

But that didn’t apply to me, who was training like crazy at the Soongmu Training Center.

Rather, I even took off my coat because of the heat rising in my body.

“Ugh, baby. Your aunt is freezing to death…….”

The aunt was shivering, buried in a thick padding [quilted outerwear].

“You were the one who said you wanted to see me, Aunt.”

“Ugh, but! It’s 23 degrees below zero right now! They say it’s colder than Siberia! Look at this! My breath sticks to my eyebrows and freezes!”

I sighed deeply.

“You can use your magical power.”

“Eeeh! It’s annoying. You wicked little kid! No, where are you going again! Can’t you just stay still for a while! The weather is cold, so live a little carelessly!”

The aunt gritted her teeth and walked over.

“Okay, okay, show it to me quickly!”

The aunt’s eyes sparkled.

“The aura skill you created!”