Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 46

Weapon-Eating Heir 46

Even if I was a mere illegitimate son, this was an outing for a direct descendant who hadn’t come of age.

I wanted to move alone, but according to the family rules, a unit of warriors had to accompany me as guards.

‘The Seven Stars Unit. What an ambiguous choice of personnel.’

I checked the escort warrior unit lined up behind the transport vehicles and let out a bitter smile.

The Seven Stars Unit was a warrior unit that had learned the Seven Stars Sword, which I occasionally used, as their basic skill.

As a warrior unit formally belonging to the Sungmu Yi family, they were by no means low-level.

However, all the members were from outside, and their main duties were minor tasks such as civil support or guard duty, making them an ambiguous unit.

If it were another direct descendant, they would have assigned a dignified warrior unit for appearances.

‘It doesn’t matter. They’re less cumbersome this way.’

These guards are enough.

Since I’m not going to a dangerous or unexplored area, the importance of martial power isn’t high.

Just as I was about to face the captain of the Seven Stars Unit.

I saw someone standing next to the captain and couldn’t believe my eyes.

“Please take good care of me during this short two-day trip, Young Master.”

“Butler Choi?”

Butler Choi, who should be by my father’s side, was accompanying me.

Butler Choi wore a smile that put people at ease.

“Two days? You mean you’re traveling with me?”

“Yes, it just so happens that the Lord has given me instructions. I will also be visiting Sungmu Mountain and Cheonwi Mountain.”

I don’t know what the instructions are, but there’s no way they were issued on the day I’m leaving.

In other words, he deliberately timed it to coincide with my trip.

‘Butler Choi? Why?’

He always maintains his humility, but Butler Choi is a key figure in the family, holding a more important position than most elders.

He’s not someone who would accompany me on a mere outing.

Feeling my questioning gaze, Butler Choi chuckled softly again and added.

“You don’t have to feel burdened. It’s also the time to tidy up the ancestors’ graves before the Lunar New Year, and I also have something to deliver to the mountain caretaker this time. I’m only accompanying you as part of the Lord’s orders. If you feel uncomfortable…”

“No, not at all. I’m happy to have you. Please take care of me, Butler Choi.”

I gave a short bow, and Butler Choi responded with a gentle smile.

I exchanged brief greetings with the captain of the Seven Stars Unit and boarded the vehicle.

And so, the group headed north.

* * *

The Sungmu Mountain, the family’s ancestral burial ground, was located in a mountain range bordering the dangerous area of northwestern Korea.

It used to be an unexplored area.

The mountain range was straight and could be called a famous mountain, but as a geomantic location [a location chosen based on its energy and spiritual properties], it wasn’t exactly ideal for a large family.

“The reason why the ancestral burial ground is located in such a place is said to be because the family’s ancestors in the past had the will to protect this land from monsters even in death. It’s now classified as a safe zone, though.”

The distance to the burial ground was quite far, so I was able to have various conversations with Butler Choi.

“By the way, may I ask why you are visiting the ancestral burial ground, Young Master?”

I smiled lightly and replied.

“Even though I’m an illegitimate son, I’m still a descendant of the Sungmu Yi family. I’m taking the opportunity to pay my respects to the ancestors as I leave the family. The current family exists because of the family’s ancestors, and so does the current me.”

It wasn’t entirely sincere, but it wasn’t a lie either.

Unless it’s a holiday or an important event, even the elders don’t visit the ancestral burial ground often.

It’s a resting place for the dead, not a place where the living can gain anything.

‘Everyone says it’s important to show respect to the ancestors, but unless there’s a special occasion, even the elders don’t bother to travel all the way to the distant burial ground. Not to mention the direct descendants.’

From the Cheolseonsik [a coming-of-age ceremony] and the Naming Ceremony to life in the cadet corps.

My life after regression, though only a little over 10 years, has always been filled with incidents and accidents.

Some people, like my uncles or father, see my actions in a positive light, but among the conservative established powers, some see me as a troublemaking loach [a slippery, bottom-dwelling fish, used metaphorically for someone who causes trouble].

No, maybe just a loach is a good thing.

‘But the fact that a young direct descendant of the family, and an illegitimate one at that, is going out of his way to pay his respects. I need that fact.’

Each of those images is important.

Nasty people might see even that in a bad light, but I don’t need to care about those people in the first place.

“As expected, you are wise, Young Master.”

Butler Choi chuckled softly.

“Many elders will look favorably upon your efforts to pay respects to the ancestors.”

Just a casual remark. But why do I feel like he’s seen through my thoughts?

“I’m grateful that you see it that way.”

The vehicle moved quickly along the road.

As we got closer to the north, the traffic decreased, and the height of the buildings also noticeably decreased.

After about an hour, the conversation with Butler Choi dwindled, and only the noise from the car circulated.

Clang-.

Whenever the car body bounced on the road, the Black Night leaning against my body made a heavy metallic sound.

I glanced at Butler Choi.

‘Image building is also necessary, but…’

One more thing.

There was another important reason why I had to stop by Sungmu Mountain before heading to Cheonwi Mountain.

I slowly reached for the black handle of the Black Night.

As if ink was spreading in the air, the black particles of black energy swirled around the Black Night like a living creature.

I had already found out that black energy was invisible to others. There was no problem.

Swish-.

The already black Black Night became even darker as it was enveloped in black energy.

Crack!

Suddenly, the black energy shook.

Accepting a stream of memories seeping into my head, I slowly closed my eyes.

In the blurry vision, I was looking down at the sword.

A rough hand reached out and wrapped around the blade of the Black Night.

And.

Flash!

As if the film had been cut, the playback of the memory stopped there.

Rather than there being a limit to what I could read like with Mujin, it felt as if the rest had been cut off.

‘It’s still the same.’

The first time I unleashed black energy on the Black Night, that was all I could read.

Even though the power of black energy had increased due to the events that had occurred, nothing had changed.

‘I guess I can only see this much until I break the seal.’

One of the reasons I’m going to the ancestral burial ground.

Because there is a task that must be done in order to obtain the Black Night.

Once again, I stroked the handle of the Black Night and turned my eyes to the passing scenery outside the window.

* * *

The air around the family’s ancestral burial ground was eerily quiet.

Before reaching the entrance of the mountain, we got out of the car and set foot on the ground. It was Butler Choi who suggested it.

“It’s not a problem to drive up to the entrance by car, but…”

“Don’t worry. I know. One who comes to the sacred land should be wary of all evil and impure things, show respect, and be vigilant in everything. It’s an old saying of the sorcerers.”

“As expected of you, Young Master.”

Sungmu Mountain is a sacred mountain.

Spitting, cursing, having lewd thoughts, dragging or shaking one’s feet, insulting the dead.

Most of the things that people say will make good fortune fly away end up as superstitions, but in these places, such things could actually act as misfortune.

‘Of course, I don’t really know if that’s the case.’

Sungmu Mountain is a space that is very complexly intertwined with sorcery and spirituality, but it is not known whether a misfortune will actually occur.

Even if such a thing happens, it is also impossible to know whether it is a misfortune of Sungmu Mountain.

I was just following the advice that Butler Choi rarely gave.

As we walked up to the entrance of the mountain, a huge mountain gate appeared.

On the old signboard that showed the passage of time, the mountain name ‘Sungmu Mountain’ was engraved along with the Yi family crest.

“This is as far as we can escort you.”

The captain of the Seven Stars Unit stopped walking.

Only those who climb Sungmu Mountain can pass through this mountain gate, and only those who are allowed can pass through it.

“Are you allowed to enter, Butler Choi?”

“I have been granted permission by the previous Lord, much to my delight. I am going to tidy up the tomb of the previous Lord, but where are you planning to go, Young Master?”

“I think I’ll go to the place where the ancestral tablet of the founder is enshrined first.”

I crossed the mountain gate with Butler Choi.

Whoosh!

The moment I passed through the mountain gate, I felt the air change.

It was as if I had entered a completely different world, even though the boundary was only divided by the gate.

‘I’ve passed through the barrier.’

I turned to Butler Choi.

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Butler Choi gave a bow with a subtle expression.

“I hope you achieve what you desire.”

“Thank you.”

I slowly walked up the well-maintained mountain path.

I could have reached the top of the mountain in an instant by using magic power, but I didn’t.

How long did I walk up the mountain path?

When I got close to the top, where the air was somewhat thin, I found an artificial structure on a huge rock wall.

‘I’ve arrived. The tomb of the founding Lord.’

The dark tomb was deeply dug in the form of a stone cave, and the walls were carved with vivid images of martial artists.

When I reached the deepest part, a huge altar faced me.

An old altar where the traces of time could be seen.

I lit incense and candles, then took out the prepared alcohol and food to prepare for the ancestral rites [traditional ceremonies to honor ancestors].

“The last descendant of the Sungmu Yi family greets the founder of the family.”

I bowed twice and a half.

Woo-.

Did the spirit of the founder really come?

The wind flowed into the tomb, making a sound like the cry of a living creature.

A very brief moment of silence.

And slowly raised my head.

“Even if I commit the rudeness of drawing my sword in the ancestor’s tomb, please forgive me as I am following the arrangement prepared by the founder.”

Swish-

I drew the Black Night and placed it on the altar.

Then, I took the cup of alcohol that I had offered to the founder and sprinkled it on the Black Night on the altar instead of drinking it myself.

Splash!

The moment the opaque drops of alcohol poured over the Black Night.

Oooooong!

The air began to tremble.

I felt an unidentified force filling the dark and empty space.

Zzzzzing-!

A noise like hundreds of bees flying around.

And red-hot letters floated above the rough black blade of the Black Night.

There were nine letters.

The first word of an unknown ancient language, neither Chinese nor Korean, shook fiercely.

‘The Black Night is a sword, but it’s not just a sword.’

Flash!

The flow of power gathered in the tomb gathered to the Black Night.

I looked at the scene and recalled the secrets of this sword that I had seen and heard in my previous life.

The family secret revealed by my eldest brother in the history of the previous life.

‘The Black Night is a key.’

The Black Night is a key to open a certain ‘door’ and also a signpost.

‘There are a total of nine seals on the Black Night.’

First, prove that you are the owner of the sword.

Even though the secrets of the Black Night had been revealed to some extent in the previous life, no one had been chosen by the sword.

So no one could break the seal.

But I was chosen by the Black Night at the Cheolseonsik.

I was the true owner of this sword.

Clang-!

With a noise like a glass craft breaking, the first letter shattered, leaving a cluster of light.

Second, prove that you are a descendant of the Sungmu Yi family.

I inherited the blood of the Yi family.

That can be proven simply by the fact that I am standing in this tomb.

Crack!

Thus, another letter disappeared.

Third, pass the first trial created by the founder.

The first trial is the Naming Ceremony.

And the first trial created by the founder means the Crown of Struggle.

In that place, I showed and proved my own struggle.

Flash!

Thus, the third seal was broken as well.

The edge of the fourth seal trembled, but there was no further change.

Woo-!

The letters floating on the Black Night had already lost their light and became blurred.

And when the light of the Black Night completely disappeared, the ritual mirror placed on the altar shone.

天爲.

Cheonwi, letters meaning Cheonwi Mountain.

It was telling me the next destination.

I bowed lightly again and retrieved the Black Night placed on the altar.

Woo-!

The moment my hand touched it, the Black Night, which had only been heavy and hard, burst out with its sword cry.

A very deep and heavy reverberation is transmitted through the fingertips.

‘It’s a masterpiece. More than any weapon I’ve ever seen.’

Even in its sealed state, the performance of the weapon itself was comparable to a sacred artifact.

Now that I have released some of its restraints, it is now finding its true form.

‘It’s not something that can be solved in a day or two.’

What I know is exactly up to the fourth seal, Cheonwi Mountain.

The difficulty was not high up to the third seal, so I was able to complete it easily, but I don’t even know what will happen after the fourth seal.

‘But on the day all the seals are broken.’

The Black Night will lead me to a prepared place.

And if the scholars who studied the Black Night were not wrong.

What I will find there is the firm legitimacy that no one in the long history of the Sungmu Yi family has ever obtained.

I took one last bow to the altar, packed up the food and alcohol, and turned around.

The next destination is Cheonwi Mountain.