Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 76

Weapon-Eating Bastard 76

Since ancient times, it has been rare for someone with a Mystic Eye to appear in the world.

This was also true in modern times, but that didn’t mean they didn’t exist at all.

Whether the probability of possessing a Mystic Eye increased with the development of technology and the increase in population, or whether there was some other reason in this era, was unknown.

At least, I knew about ten Mystic Eye users in my past life.

Among those users, some self-destructed as my father said, and others succeeded in controlling it and left great achievements.

And there was one such person in Korea.

‘Valerie de Bell.’

As you can tell from the name, she was not Korean.

Her nationality was French. Born into a noble family, she was one of the great mages who rose to the 2nd level of magic in my previous life.

The Mystic Eye she possessed was called the Analysis Eye.

It was an eye that read information about all things, and this ability made her a great mage.

‘I came to Gyeongju to meet this woman, but I never thought I would meet her like this.’

A little surprised and speechless, Valerie narrowed her eyes slightly and leaned her face forward when I didn’t answer.

“Hey, are you scared of me? Ah, are you not Korean? Are you Chinese? Ni chi fan le ma?” [“Have you eaten?”]

…….

Suddenly asking if I’ve eaten. No, I’m 100 percent sure she’s not asking because she thinks I’m really Chinese.

“I’m Korean.”

“Um, that’s a relief. Actually, I don’t know how to speak Chinese.”

……I knew it, but she was more unpredictable than I imagined.

I knew what nickname she would be called in the future.

The eccentric of the Magic Tower.

No… the crazy woman of the Magic Tower.

She was a person who stirred up as much controversy as she received public attention.

Her decadent atmosphere and beautiful appearance played a part, but even before coming to Korea, her constant eccentric behavior never ceased to cause controversy.

From the beginning, the reason why she, who came from the Eiffel Magic Tower in France, came to Korea was because she ‘suddenly wanted to learn jujutsu’.

What’s more, she came without even getting permission from the Magic Tower Master.

Later, she even became naturalized, and it is a famous incident that she answered ‘because the chicken is delicious’ to a reporter who asked why she decided to become naturalized at a related press conference.

“Anyway, what do you do?”

“You spoke to me first, so why are you asking me?”

“You’re a picky guy. Then let’s start with introductions.”

She held out her hand.

“I’m Valerie de Bell. As you can see, I’m not Korean, I’m from France. I’m a magician.”

“I’m Lee Cheol. Nice to meet you.”

I answered, taking her hand.

“Lee? Ah, are you from the Lee Family? Ah, what do they say in Korea? Sungmu Lee-ga?” [A prominent lineage in martial arts]

Her pronunciation was a little awkward, but she was as fluent as a Korean.

I nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Hmm? Aren’t the Sungmu Lee-ga people like royalty in this country?”

“It’s very different, but it’s true that they have great power.”

“Really?”

Valerie pointed at my face with a long ivory mouthpiece.

“Then why are you covering that cute face with a mask? Are you running away from someone, being a member of the great Lee family?”

Valerie noticed the Manmyeon Iron Mask [Mask of a Thousand Faces] as if it were nothing.

I paused for a moment without realizing it.

I wore the Manmyeon Iron Mask whenever I went to crowded places to prepare for any possible situation, even though it was stuffy.

I had primarily shaken off the family’s tail, but just in case.

But Valerie saw through it.

‘It’s not surprising. She awakened her Mystic Eye much earlier than me, and her eye’s nature is similar to mine.’

If I used my Mystic Eye, I could see through the illusion of the Manmyeon Iron Mask.

It would be more than possible for Valerie, who has used that Mystic Eye for much longer than me.

Click!

I took off the Manmyeon Iron Mask that was covering my face.

“You’re not surprised that I recognized it.”

“I saw that you have eyes similar to mine.”

“Hmm, even calm. And you’re young.”

Valerie gave a strange smile.

“I never thought I would meet someone with a Mystic Eye in such a faraway country. I’ve never heard of anyone in the Sungmu Lee family having a Mystic Eye.”

“I never thought I would come all the way here and see someone with a Mystic Eye.”

Actually, I knew.

This time, I needed Valerie de Bell and the Mystic Eye she possessed.

“Is it because of the Sungmu Lee family’s special bloodline that you have that eye? Don’t you do some strange ritual or something?”

“It’s closer to a test than a ritual… Yes, it’s similar.”

A strange light flickered in Valerie’s eyes.

“Hmm, that’s amazing. Mystic Eyes aren’t supposed to be awakened that way. What abilities do your eyes have?”

Valerie took a step closer.

I took a step back.

“I don’t know why I have to reveal my secrets.”

“You’re so picky….”

Valerie snorted, then straightened her face and stared into my eyes.

Her eyes, which had been slightly droopy as if she was tired, turned sharp.

And a purple light overflowed over her dark brown irises.

Crack!

And my Mystic Eye reacted to that energy.

“…What are you doing?”

I frowned and took a step back.

Suddenly exploring the other person, especially if that exploration was done by a Mystic Eye, was the same as openly fighting.

“Um. Sorry, sorry. I was too curious. But it’s strange, I can’t read anything. It’s been a while since this happened.”

“…….”

“Hmm, don’t be so angry. As an apology, I’ll tell you something good. Instead, let’s have a serious conversation. How about it?”

Valerie smiled strangely and held out her hand again.

Anyway, it worked out well.

She will become a great mage in the future. It was good in many ways to have a relationship with such a person.

Besides, she was the person who would play an important role in interpreting the stone tablet, so the process was a bit like that, but it was the result I wanted.

‘But why do I have a bad feeling?’

I looked down at her hand and frowned without realizing it.

I was meeting her for the first time, including my past life and the life after regression, but strangely, it felt like I had experienced something similar.

‘Who the hell… Ah.’

A little, no, a lot different.

I thought of one person in my head.

Aunt Lee Kyung-hwa.

Valerie is somewhat similar to my aunt.

The moment I realized that, I started to worry about holding that outstretched hand.

“Huh? You don’t like it? I said I’m sorry?”

Valerie urged me with a strange smile and tone.

“I understand.”

Haa.

I sighed softly, not loud enough for her to hear, and shook her hand.

“Okay. Then, shall we get out of this smelly alley and have a cup of coffee, young friend?”

The hem of her long black cardigan fluttered like a cape.

Valerie grinned and gestured.

* * *

Valerie led me to another strange alley.

Then, she opened a rusty, shabby iron gate attached to the wall of an abandoned house that didn’t seem to be inhabited.

‘Are we going to drink coffee here?’

I don’t understand at all.

What I can see from the outside is just an ordinary abandoned house…….

‘……Huh?’

At that moment, I felt a strange sensation.

A feeling similar to when I faced the goblin’s magic in Cheonwisan [Mountain of a Thousand Spirits].

I definitely felt that the other side of this door was connected to another place.

“Now, did you notice?”

Valerie, who saw me hesitating, widened her eyes.

“You saw this without even using your Mystic Eye? Did you learn magic? No, even if you learned it.”

“I didn’t learn magic. And isn’t it so surprising that I feel a strange feeling?”

Valerie snorted as if she was dumbfounded.

“That feeling you mentioned. It’s normal that you can’t feel it unless you’re my teacher. Because I set it up that way.”

There was only one person in the world that Valerie de Bell openly called her teacher.

The Magic Tower Master of the Eiffel Magic Tower and a man with 1st class magic qualifications.

Michael Garrell.

But she said that you can’t feel it unless you’re that person. She’s already setting up something like this?

“I’ve experienced something similar.”

“No, it’s different. Even if you’ve experienced something similar, you shouldn’t be able to feel it until you come in. Unless you’ve extremely trained your magic.”

Valerie’s eyes flashed with a strange light again.

“Then is this a teleportation gate?”

Years ago, the method the trainer used to infiltrate Jeokcheongdo [Crimson Azure Island] was teleportation.

“No, I have quite a bit of money, but not enough to set up something like that. To put it simply… it’s a collaboration between jujutsu and magic? It’s a spatial tunnel connected by magic power and spiritual power.”

Valerie opened the door and went inside first.

“Come on in.”

I followed her inside.

The air quality changed.

A feeling like passing through a humid sauna.

That feeling was brief, and soon the scene that appeared before my eyes was the scenery of an ordinary cafe that could be found anywhere.

The scent of coffee beans lingered at the tip of my nose.

There wasn’t a single person in the cafe.

Only one man was standing at the counter, staring blankly into the air.

‘Not a person.’

I felt a sense of incongruity from the man sitting at the counter.

I could feel magic power from the man, but I couldn’t feel any physical activity.

“That’s a golem. It’s just a robot with a magic power engine. From here on out, it’s my workshop, so all sorts of strange things will pour out. Ask me about anything you’re curious about later. First, order what you want to drink.”

“…Is it okay to set up a place like this in your workshop?”

“I want to feel the mood, but I don’t want to go out every time.”

Usually, when you think of a magician’s workshop, you think of a secret space full of magic circles and magic tools, not a cafe where golems serve.

Valerie ordered an espresso with a few sugar cubes, and I ordered the tea I often drank at the main house.

As soon as the golem heard the order, it began to prepare the drinks with clumsy movements.

“Can I smoke a cigarette?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

“Thank you.”

She put a cigarette in her mouthpiece again and lit it.

“I have so many questions, what should I ask first?”

“Why do you think I’ll answer everything?”

“Ah, you’re really stingy.”