Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 6

Weapon-Eating Bastard – 6

Ten Thousand Changes.

That was Third Brother’s epithet, and very rarely, it was an epithet attached to the weapon itself.

Mujin’s ability was simple and clear.

‘A weapon that can be transformed into any shape you desire by injecting magical power.’

Into a sword, a spear, or a bow.

Even the weight of the same weapon could be made heavier or lighter, and its length, hardness, and strength, along with numerous other properties, could be freely adjusted. It was a unique weapon.

After staring at Mujin for a moment, I carefully channeled my magical power into it.

Mujin absorbed my magical power and slowly began to change its form.

Sweat began to bead on my forehead.

‘This is it.’

My whole body felt hot.

The mana circuit was overheating.

I gazed at Mujin, which was writhing and changing, with a sense of regret, and then cut off the magical power.

“Haha.”

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

The handle and shape were still that of a dagger, but only the blade had vaguely lengthened by about a hand span, making it unbalanced. Moreover, some parts of the lengthened blade were sharp, while others were blunt and erratic.

‘I was trying to make a small sword of a suitable size.’

My magical power was insufficient, and I lacked the skill.

But this could be solved with time.

The important thing was this.

‘Now Mujin is mine.’

The image of Third Brother wielding Mujin freely came to mind.

Swinging a spear at mid-range.

Using it as a sword when approached.

Using a bow and throwing knives at long range.

Increasing and decreasing its weight, freely adjusting its length, and sometimes even controlling its hardness and strength at will.

All those actions were as natural as flowing water, and fast.

With that overwhelming irregularity and diversity, Third Brother was revered by many strong individuals.

‘It’s possible for me too. Maybe even more than Third Brother.’

For me, who can read the memories of all weapons, there was no weapon more suitable than Mujin.

Then I was startled.

‘More than Third Brother, huh… I’ve changed a lot, Lee Cheol.’

I stared blankly at Mujin.

If it were the past me, struggling with helplessness and defeat, I wouldn’t have even unconsciously thought that way.

‘In my past life, it felt like I had fallen into a bottomless abyss….’

Now it felt like I was walking on an endlessly stretching highway.

The feeling of uncertainty was still there, but its nature was different. It was an uncertainty that was more like anticipation.

“Ahem.”

I felt my nose getting hot. I awkwardly coughed a few times and picked up Mujin, which had fallen to the ground.

And after struggling and injecting magical power again for a long time, I was able to turn Mujin back into the form of a dagger.

‘Forget about Third Brother, I need to learn how to handle it properly first.’

Feeling the truly empty magical power reserves within me, a hollow laugh escaped my lips.

At that moment, I heard the sound of the door opening from the entrance.

“Young Master. It’s time.”

I hurriedly put Mujin in my arms.

And I took out the item I had hidden in my inner pocket.

“Young Master? Where are you?”

“I’m here.”

As I said that, I placed the item I had examined back on the stand as if returning it to its original place.

It was a dagger that looked exactly like Mujin, except that it wasn’t rusted.

‘This should be enough.’

In the underground of Bigo, things that had been sealed and left unattended without their identities being revealed were often found, eventually becoming ordinary objects.

It was something I had asked the nanny to make based on my memories from my past life, so there were some differences in appearance, but this was enough.

“It’s time to leave the training room. Time’s up.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I walked out slowly, fastening my coat.

Since I would be able to get out without a body search anyway, there was nothing to worry about, and even if I were searched, there would be no problem.

I had already changed its form, and unless my magical power was injected, no special points would be discovered.

I might get a little scolded, but I could just say that I had been carrying it around.

The weight felt in my arms was considerable for such a small dagger.

It wasn’t a bad weight.

* * *

The Martial Training Ground was as deserted as ever.

Even the officers who occasionally came for patrols and the staff who managed the training grounds did not enter the training grounds themselves, as they were not supposed to interfere with the training of the direct line [the main family or bloodline of the clan].

Thanks to that, I was able to focus solely on training.

It had been a week since I obtained Mujin.

I had been repeatedly practicing only one stance.

“Hoo!”

I took a breath and opened my eyes.

I pictured a man in my head.

Slowly, I took a step forward.

At the same time, a single slash from top to bottom!

Slash-!

The sword, imbued with magical power, deeply penetrated the torso of the training dummy.

But that was it. The sword stopped, leaving a hand span to spare.

“Another failure.”

I ruffled my sweat-soaked hair and collapsed on the spot.

“Hoo.”

As I raised my hand to my eyes to block the sunlight, the black ring on my finger caught my eye.

It was Mujin, transformed into a shape for easy carrying.

‘……What was that back then?’

I gently turned Mujin with my thumb and recalled when I first obtained it.

What I am training now was the man’s single slash that I had read from Mujin.

No, could I even call it a memory in the first place?

I felt that horrific scene with my whole body.

It was so vivid, but at the same time, that illusion was terribly unrealistic… the man recognized me.

‘There hasn’t been anything like that since.’

I had read Mujin’s memories several times again, but there was no phenomenon like the first time. As usual, unfamiliar memories were played back briefly and irregularly.

And in that image, I read one sword form.

‘Sword form, my ass, it’s just a technique.’

A deflated laugh escaped my lips.

I thought I had recently become skilled in this ability, but it seemed that was not the case at all.

Just one stance.

When I read the memory, I only managed to read one stance that the man wielded.

The name of that technique was Exorcism (刺魔) [literally, ‘Piercing Demon’].

As if it was too early for me, the black energy showed me only one stance and its name.

‘It’s just one stance, but it’s the real deal. I was just trying to get it because of Mujin’s ability, but it was an unexpected gain.’

I felt my heart pounding.

Before my regression, I was a half-wit who hadn’t even been taught the family’s basic forms.

Even though it was just one technique, this was the first time I had encountered high-level martial arts.

“Let’s try again.”

I took a breath and grabbed the training sword again.

Whoosh-!

A heavy wind sound, which could never be said to be the power of a nine-year-old child, flowed out.

Magic Art Stage 1, Strengthening (剛體) [physical enhancement technique].

I had already opened the first door of magic, accepting magical power and strengthening my body.

I carefully imbued it with magical power and tried again, but.

“This isn’t it.”

The feeling was too different from the sword strike in my memory.

The man’s movements even felt graceful, but no matter how hard I tried to imitate it, I only failed.

So much so that my joints even ached as if I had done strength training with the wrong posture.

I recalled Mujin’s memory again.

A short fragment of memory, only about 10 seconds long.

The man’s downward strike as he took a step forward.

I focused on the flow of magical power and movement that followed.

Once, twice, three times…….

Until there was no energy left in my heart.

‘Focus. You can do it.’

It wasn’t my body, but I could now feel more clearly than anyone else how the man moved his body in his memory.

Hesitation-

One thought flashed through my mind.

‘……It’s not my body.’

I slowly looked down at my body.

A sturdy build for a nine-year-old, but still an unfinished child’s body.

‘I’m not a grown adult, but a nine-year-old kid.’

Even though I had been reborn and nine years had passed, there were still times when my body felt awkward.

Especially when I couldn’t do something because my arms and legs were short.

‘What an idiot. How could I not have known this?’

The man’s movements were natural.

It was as if he had complete control over every single muscle fiber.

It was neither excessive nor lacking.

I picked up the training sword again and took a stance.

I focused on the coordination of my whole body.

I accepted my body as it was.

I didn’t rush to swing the sword.

Slowly, naturally, I swung the sword to fit my body.

At that moment.

Paah-!

A different sound than before was heard.

A piercingly sharp sonic boom.

It had changed.

The posture had definitely improved.

I clenched my fist.

‘I think I’ve got a little bit of a feel for it.’

I hadn’t been able to get a grasp on it at all, but now I could see a little bit of the direction of the training.

But another problem remained.

‘Magical power.’

A bitter smile appeared.

Whether it was because my knowledge of magic was shallow, or whether there was some other problem.

No matter how hard I tried to imitate the way the man used magical power, it was as if an important part was missing, and I couldn’t follow it at all.

‘In the end, I have no choice but to try.’

I swung the training sword around and took a stance.

I was used to making an effort.

If making an effort was also a talent, I was confident that I wouldn’t be second to anyone in that talent.

At that time.

“Hey, kid.”

Flinch-.

Without realizing it, I stepped back and took a defensive stance.

A woman was standing there.

Was she in her 40s? No, she looked like she was in her early 30s at first glance.

Her hair was not properly combed, and it covered more than half of her face in a disheveled manner, and she was barefoot without shoes.

Her appearance was so far from normal that I couldn’t help but frown.

“Who…….”

Who are you. As I was about to say that, I discovered light brown eyes hidden beneath the woman’s dark, dirt-covered hair.

“……are you?”

Dark black hair and light-colored brown eyes were a characteristic that appeared in the direct line of the Sungmoo Lee family.

This woman was from the direct line of the Sungmoo Lee family.

“Me? You don’t know me?”

“No, I’ve never seen you before.”

She suddenly made a sullen expression and nodded.

“Yeah, you might not know me. Actually, I’m seeing you for the first time too.”

“……Yes?”

“I don’t show my face very often. So now that you’ve seen me, you know me, right?”

No, I don’t know what she wants to say.

‘The way she’s acting… is she somewhat… different?’

She kept tilting her head with a somewhat blank expression.

“So what’s your name? I thought only my family members could come here?”

“……Young is my name.”

“Lee Young? That’s a strange name.”

“That’s my childhood name. I haven’t had my naming ceremony yet.”

“Ah, so you’re my family too! Which older brother’s son are you?”

Older brother?

Did my father have a younger sister of that age?

My father’s brothers were also numerous like my brothers. But as far as I knew, there were only three uncles and one aunt still alive. Besides, that aunt was much older.

‘No, wait a minute.’

An old memory flashed through my mind.

‘The youngest aunt. There was a youngest aunt.’

The daughter that the previous head of the family had in his old age, and a person hidden in the family.

‘Her name was definitely…… Lee Kyung…… yes, it was Lee Kyung-hwa, I think.’

I remember my uncle telling me.

At that time, my uncle had not yet left the family, and he had only told me a very short story about my youngest aunt when I asked about the family.

-That child, your aunt, was a little different from others. Your grandfather couldn’t stand it. He didn’t even acknowledge me, a bastard, so how could he have tolerated her?

“Hehe.”

Round and round.

I couldn’t stay still and looked at my aunt, who was looking at me here and there while smiling, and I didn’t know what kind of expression to make.

“……My father’s given name uses the character for the crown prince, Shin.”

“So you’re the son of the first older brother. The baby is young but uses difficult words well. But I’m sure it was a daughter? Did your gender change?”

It was ridiculous, but she didn’t seem to be joking at all.

She probably doesn’t know.

I said calmly.

“I came from outside. I’m the ninth.”

“Ah, so you’re the same as my little older brother!”

Coming from outside, that is, being a bastard.

Even at that, my aunt didn’t change at all.

It had been a long time since I had seen someone who didn’t discriminate against me as a bastard other than my uncle, so I felt strangely new.

“Baby. My name is…… Ah, what was my name? Ah! That’s right! It’s Lee Kyung-hwa! Nice to meet you!”

She smiled brightly and held out her hand.

As I stared blankly at that hand, Lee Kyung-hwa shouted with a pouty face.

“You have to shake hands when you greet someone!”

“Yes? Ah, yes…….”

As soon as I grabbed her hand, Lee Kyung-hwa shook it fiercely.

‘Ugh! It feels like it’s going to fall off!’

My shoulder screamed.

As soon as I let go of her hand, I grabbed my shoulder and tried hard not to groan.

“Does it hurt?”

“I’m okay.”

“Hmm, your body is weak?”

Gritting-

I almost bit my lip without realizing it.

“Ah, but hey.”

Lee Kyung-hwa, who had been smiling round and round for a while, suddenly took a step towards me as if she had suddenly remembered something.

“Yes, Aunt.”

“Where did you learn that?”

Lee Kyung-hwa’s transparent brown eyes stared at me.

My figure was reflected in those pupils.

“Why do you ask?”

“That’s ancient martial arts (古武術) [martial arts predating the modern system]. This aunt really, really likes old martial arts.”

“Yes?”

“So, in the old days, magic arts weren’t developed, and there were no awakenings or supernatural powers, and there was no science…… but at that time, ancient monsters were active. At that time, right…….”

Lee Kyung-hwa suddenly asked me and suddenly started saying strange things on her own.

I had no choice but to nod my head in agreement.

“……So that’s a pretty good swordsmanship. So it’s amazing. This aunt likes it very much. You, what was your name……? Ah, that’s right! Yeol!”

“……It’s Young. Aunt.”

“That or that.”

Lee Kyung-hwa grinned.

Then she suddenly tilted her head.

“Hmm…… but why did I come here? Do you know?”

“Even if you ask me, I don’t know.”

It seems like I get tired when I talk to her.

“Ah, that’s right. I came after seeing you swinging your sword while passing by. But why did I come back home? Hmm…….”

She narrowed her brows as if she was really worried.

It was then.

She suddenly turned her head and stared blankly into the air.

“Ah, Older Brother is calling me. That’s right, I came to see Older Brother. I have to go now. It was nice meeting you, nephew. And this is a gift. Keep it. I’ll come to pick it up!”

Lee Kyung-hwa forcibly pushed a thick hardcover notebook into my arm.

It was an old notebook with sticky notes and memos sticking out of it.

I turned my eyes to the notebook for a moment and then raised my head again.

‘In that time?’

My aunt was nowhere to be seen.

I turned my head quickly and looked for my aunt. But I couldn’t find any trace of her anywhere.

She disappeared like a ghost.

I had no choice but to shake my head.

‘A gift, she says. What the heck is this?’

Without much thought, I opened the notebook that my aunt had passed on to me.

And soon I clenched the notebook tightly.